Hope Diner

Stopped in here by chance and so glad I did. The waterfront views can’t be beat, the prices are good, and the staff made great recommendations about the menu. Lovely local vibe, very clean. Most importantly, the food was prepared using fresh local ingredients and the care in preparation came through in every bite. I look forward to being a customer again and might even drive out of my way just to return!

Absolutely love the Hope Diner! We visit Bristol once in a while from Providence and this is our favorite spot hands down. Wonderful service, friendly atmosphere, and the food is great quality and cost. We recommend the chicken liver and eggs, the corned beef hash, and the grilled muffins.

This was, without question, the worst diner experience I’ve ever had. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was chaotic and uncomfortable. There was no sign indicating that guests needed to wait to be seated, so we sat at an open table — only to be immediately scolded by a staff member in a rude and condescending tone. The service throughout the visit was awful. The staff were openly yelling at each other across the diner, creating a tense and unpleasant environment. When we tried asking simple questions about the menu, the responses we received were sarcastic and dismissive. It felt as though customers were an inconvenience rather than guests. The food was equally terrible. The toast wasn’t toasted, the corned beef hash was undercooked, greasy, and had a texture and appearance disturbingly similar to cat food. The coffee was bitter and unpleasant, and even the water had an odd, distinct taste. At one point, we were asked whether we wanted our pork chop cooked or “pink,” which is deeply concerning and potentially a health code issue. Beyond the food and service, the diner itself was in poor condition. The staff appeared unkempt, and the entire facility felt dirty and poorly maintained — from sticky tables to visible grime on the floors. It’s clear that cleanliness and professionalism are not priorities here. I left not only disappointed but honestly concerned about the food safety practices in place. I cannot understand how this establishment has nearly a five-star rating on Google, because my experience was the complete opposite of what those reviews suggest. I would strongly discourage anyone from dining here. There are plenty of other local diners in Rhode Island that treat their customers with respect and take pride in their food — unfortunately, Hope Diner is not one of them.

What a fun place! My wife had the Portuguese Sweet Bread French Toast and I had the Chourico Sausage Sandwich with sauce and onions, and both were delicious. This is the sort of place where you can really get the local flavor. I swear the staff knew the names and regular orders for everyone. The staff are a hoot, and there may or may not be a parrot in the back that talks back and sings songs. If you are going to the Audubon Nature Center or Colt State Park, you owe it to yourself to get breakfast or lunch at the Hope Diner.

Good burger, fries flavorless standard frozen. Unique atmosphere, tight space, counter with barstools, crooked floor, friendly people, but fair prices on decent food. Seems like a place with regular repeat customers, not a tourist stop

My parents started coming here before I was born. I grew up coming here. The food is awesome, and the staff is family. This place sets the standard for everything a hometown diner should be. I get the Portuguese sweetbread French toast every time. I cannot overstate how special this diner is.

Best breakfast in Bristol and compared to everywhere else too! The atmosphere is great, the service is great, the food is great, everything is great and consistent. Highly recommend

I bike there eastbay bicycle path and always get a breakfast for ride back. 32 miles round trip. But it's a old school diner chef is awesome. Workers yell out orders.] Old school Mt style!!

It's a Bristol, RI classic! What can ya say?? The staff always makes it a HOOT! You never know who you'll get or how many packs of jelly you'll get tossed your way. The waitstaff are all super kind and friendly and are a tight-night family that I think go way back in the community. Be ready to order, because seating is limited and there is usually a line of many regulars out the door on a sunny weekend morning. Cross your fingers for immediate seating if you show up between 9-10am! This is a classic diner with classic diner food--the diner food as seen on TV. Let's also not forget, you get what you pay for! In cash too, but don't worry--they have an ATM. Prices are pretty decent!! ~$20 all encompassing per person. I've seen some reviews complaining about the service. I find myself here quite often so I feel compelled to vouch for the Hope staff. They are genuine people who won't take your bs!! Be respectful and they'll take care of you. I can honestly say it is my top choice to bring people from out of town to experience, but I'm not a weekly regular. If you love classic diner food you should check it out at least once. I'm sure I'll be back soon!! RECR: - Definitely try their grilled bagels!

First time at the diner. I gave it a five star not only for the food and service but for the little extra attention for being a first time customer. The diner is more of an older 50's look. Very clean. Local's enjoy. I was greeted by a young lady dressed as a fairy I believe. I expressed that it was our first time eating there. The staff were so friendly. We were handed little Halloween treat bags while we were waiting for our order to be taken. The food was really good! Freshly made to order no skimping on my bacon order! We happen to notice freshly baked blueberry muffins that were huge! Next time. If you're in the Bristol area it's definitely a must stop. Pictures to follow.

This is the best diner I've ever been to. The breakfast is amazing. I ordered a grilled blueberry muffin and a side of corned beef hash. My husband ordered scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns and a grilled English muffin ! The muffin was extremely large and delicious. The corned beef hash was the best I've ever had. My husband's bacon was cooked to perfection as well as everything else! Coffee was good too! You won't be disappointed

Ms D is the best server, so kind & caring for all ages from toddlers to over a 100. It's obvious there are a lot of people here who are locals and are regular. She has places set for them and they walk in. Everyone seems to know everyone. The food is excellent. The only reason I didn't go five stars is because the lady behind the counter who is either a manager or ownerwill stop preparing food when she gets her locals at the counter and gets their food to them first. The hot grilled muffins of all flavors are excellent. They do run out so don't go late. The eggs Benedict is some of the best I ever had the sauce, you would just want to have a straw. It's so delicious.

After seeing all the reviews decided to try the Hope diner. I ordered a Broccoli Swiss Cheese Omelette and what a disappointing experience it was big as if the omelette swallowed half a head of broccoli. The omelette itself was paper thin as in a crepe, amazed they were able to do it so thin . Inside this thin Omelette were there 2 inch whole florets and one 4 floret with a big stem. The balance between the 3 ingredients did not exist . The home fries very greasy with too much seasoning.

Simple fast great food and service. One of the best muffins I've ever had. That and a cup Of coffee from smiling faces - really the best.

Add another breakfast spot to your list. A visit is worth it alone to hear the banter among the staff. Parking lot; an old diner but spotlessly clean. A LOT of regulars and a decidedly senior clientele. Busy spot when one gent (Vince) is full time on the toast. The standard breakfast fare with some daily specials. Reasonably priced and big portions. "Bottomless" coffees. We had a small French toast with a side of bacon and their "kielbasa and eggs" special. All tasty although the kielbasa was on the sweet side for me. Damages with tip was $34. Food 4/5 Service 5/5 Value 3/5 (average) Cleanliness 5/5 Noise 3/5 (lot of staff and customer chatter) Decor 3/5

What a find this local dinner has the best breakfast I have found in years. Had the pork chop breakfast and it was amazing, my wife had a in house made blueberry muffin that was big enough too feed 2 people. Granddaughter had the fresh fruit that was fresh, cut to order. My son could not say enough about the sausage hash breakfast, as my daughter in law could not stop talking about her breakfast which was chourico hash. Coffee was so good that not even being a coffee drinker I had numerous cups. The waitress was like having your aunt or mom taking care of you. This is a neighborhood place where everybody knows everyone and is friendly to anyone who comes in. This was such an enjoyable experience that when I go back too Bristol I will be there to enjoy the food and the people.

a piece of Americana with a water view! great food - love the sausage hash . my husband loves the fish hash . great lunch specials too

Old fashioned diner. Probably the best cook around, based on the top-notch food dishes she prepares. Would you believe I tipped the Owner Loreen also? Tradition done when I find such a gem of a place , and done so in honor of my Mother and Grand-mother, both of who spent their entire adult life in the restaurant industry.

Stopped in for breakfast. Fresh and homemade with a very friendly staff. Homemade multi grain toast with a Ham and Swiss omelette. Home fries were Fresh as well. Definitely be back as it was also priced reasonable with good coffee as well.

We stopped in one morning with my daughter and we were greeted immediately. Sat and had menus ready to go. The food was ok but the overall atmosphere there was awesome. The people in charge made you feel at home and they gave my daughter a little puzzle from their treasure chest that she is obsessed with. Really enjoyed our visit!

If you don't mind waiting an hour for breakfast, then being told by the waitress that they've run out of your choice, this is the place for you! Noisy and small, the food looked great but we waited over an hour for a very basic order, watching a chaotic staff yell and bustle around offering endless coffee refills but no food ever materialized. Either go right when it opens or forget it!

The service here is horrible. They offer indoor and outdoor but if your outdoor you might as well not exist. They treat it like takeout. You have to call your order on the phone and if they remember you they'll bring to the table in a plastic bag. They tell you to clean up your own trash & wipe the table down. I'm sorry if your a restaurant and want to serve people step it up and have staff to service the guests. Today I was also asked about a tip and I was actually offended. Why would I tip? There's was no service to tip for. Won't be going there ever again.

I have lived only slightly below Hope Diner my entire life. It took a long time but now I can see it. The owners have a hand, at least. On the plate they pay attention to negative space. To my surprise 3/5 of my breakfast were combined. Needless to say their decisions tasted the right way. How else could I see perfection is never perfect? This breakfast left me with questions. It's a place like this you get a little more than what you bargain for. Not like the chains that treat 10 dollars as 4. Here you get a serving of food and a lot more. Chops and eggs in Stark text, utilitarian white, frosted ovals and a faint repetition coming from the background. Magic is for fantasy, Dreams are for sleep, truth is in the spirit who holds himself accountable to the customer's experience. When the time comes and something is missing, now you know where to turn.

Super friendly staff! Food was good and reasonably priced. The inside could use some slight updating, but I feel like every diner has some character to it by not updating.

Today was my first time here, and I was not disappointed! The staff is comical! The food was good! What a great first impression I had! Thank you!

A diner without French Fries. If that sounds good to you this is the place to go. It's a Saturday and they don't serve French fries despite being on the menu. So you can order a cheeseburger and club sandwich but you can't get fries. It gets worse. Small diner and we waited 20 minutes to be acknowledged by a waitress! By then we were to invested to walk out because of the fry thing. What's more the 5 person table behind us was served in stages. One poor guy waited until his family was almost done to get his omelet. I love the charm of diners but the people on the line were literally screaming at each other. Not enjoyable to listen to. Our burger was a hockey puck. The rest of the food was poor. Oh and the prices on the menu aren't accurate. Everything we were charge for was .50 more than indicated. FYI it's cash only if you still feel like going.

This local hometown place is great! If you are looking for a quiet quaint place.... This is NOT it, this is a true open cook line dinner! The locals are greeted by name and the tourists with a smile and a "Morning, Sit wherever". Potions are extremely generous and the prices are Very affordable. Everything is made to order and ingredients are fresh and flavorful! The service staff all work together and literally communicate across the room.... Lol... We ate here every morning we were in Bristol, can't say enough positive about the place! A definite experience NOT to be missed!

I love this place. I've been on the weekends, along with the rest of the town of Bristol, but it's my favorite place to stop when I'm on my way home from dropping people off at the airport for an early flight. At 6 or 7 am, it's just a few local guys who know each other, me, and my pancakes. And my coffee milk. Love sitting at the counter, love the view of the bay and boats right there. Go for it. Just don't expect the friendliest waitstaff - they're classic diner people.

Quaint and authentic. Recommendations: sweet bread, home fries, corned beef hash. This is a small place by the water. NOT ON THE WATER no outside seating either. I loved the authenticity here. A No nonsense chef and some very loud, very friendly seasoned waitresses. If they aren't actually all related I'd be surprised they run this place like a real family. Coffee was good- I am not a Starbucks drinker- it was good for me. Sweet bread was delicious. I did not have corn beef hash but so many people ordered it within the 30 minutes that we were there I figure, it must be good.

Fun place. It was loud on Sunday morning, orders being yelled out, friendly banter with guests. Sweetbread French Toast was great, it would be my recommendation. I'd bring your buddies from college or dad to this place but probably not grandma Edith. Prices were fair.

This is a pretty fun little spot in Bristol. The group that runs it seems pretty tight nit and the locals love them. They have a limited menu which allows them to serve it up fast and hot. The food quality itself is pretty good and filling. The service, if you are not a friend of the family, can be a little slow. If you are part of the in crowed, they will smother you. I was not part of the in crowed, but I was okay with the people watching. So, good food, check, clean, check, friendly, check, good prices, check! If you are in Bristol, you wont go wrong here. Reality check: Because it is a 3 star place, I would not go out of my way to go eat here. It is purely a place for the locals and the 'just because I am here' crowd.

I would give this place 0 stars if I could. Father's Day morning at 9am, we sat down 25 minutes pass and we still have not gotten to order drinks or anything. My mom went up to the counter to let them know we have been waiting for service for about a half hour. The waitress comes over a few minutes later to get our coffee, I tell her we are ready to order and she walks away and doesn't let us order. Another 15 minutes and STILL have not ordered our food. I would think by that point someone would of rushed over and apologized but not one person said anything. People were coming in and getting served after us. We got up and left and we told them we were disappointed and not one person apologized. We were flat out ignored. I am truly appalled by the service. Wish they had the decency to just apologize. Never going back.

It's a great place for so many reasons! Great food, The people that work there are amazing, Quick Service, Unbelievable Blueberry Muffins, Chef run, Beautiful views of the Ocean, Fantastic Diner feel. A Wonderful Family runs & owns the diner with pride. Very reasonable prices. Friendly atmosphere . And happy customers!!!

This is insane I have not been here yet till today. So dumb. It will be my fav hang out till I ever move. The service is both quick and fun. The cook/chef Nate is so funny I recommend the counter if you want a show. This place is on point. The prices are what you should expect for delish "home" diner cooked food. An absolute must.

My new favorite breakfast spot! Great corned beef hash and excellent prices for doing breakfast food. I'm looking forward to trying them for lunch

Went there with my family and my brother's, 4 adults & 4 kids ranging 1-4, and this place was perfect. First, the greeting was so nice and welcoming. We got a table right away, the waitresses were extra cheerful with the kids and the food was outstanding. They have a shelf of tons of toys to keep the kids busy and the chef even comes out to talk with you. I will be eating breakfast here every time I am in town and need to grab breakfast.

Alright you hash hounds out there,this is for you. I finally got a chance to get on down here and see what this place is about this past Sunday.I sat at the counter and was warmly greeted with a big smile and a happy " morning".I asked ( I always do),if they have homemade hash.The reply was "it's one of our specialty's", as she handed me the menu to choose.They have hash alright,4 kinds in fact.Corned beef,sausage,chourico and fish are the choices.I went with the chourico.Pronounced chorees ,I later learned. While waiting,I tuned into the conversation between the brother and sister dou that run the place.Bob at the grill and Lorene who takes the orders and then barks them at Bob.Seems they have a working love hate relationship here and it was really hilarious at times.My meal was exceptional and the coffee was some of the best I ever had.They even gave me 3 slices of toast instead of the usual 2.I've never run into that before.I gotta return real soon and try another hash dish and I'll be sure to sit close to the action at the counter.Super good food and service at a nice price and free entertainment to boot.Priceless.

Been here only for breakfast, but many times over the last 20 years. There is always a wait to get in, on the weekends, but I think I am done with this place now. It is always fun to listen to the lingo from the servers, but overall service is slow, and the food is only so-so. I usually get the O'Doris, but I think that I can make this at home a lot better than they can. Need to find another breakfast spot when I am in RI.

What a surprise find for breakfast! Passing through Bristol with friends when we came across this diner filled with locals and even better filled with local flavors such as toasted Portuguese sweet bread and homemade sausage with fresh baked muffins. The banter between the cook and the wait-staff was priceless! The food was plentiful and delicious! Nothing to fancy but the plates were full...the hash brown potatoes were excellent. This is definitely a local spot and should not be passed by with out a try!

Local diner with solid and reasonably priced fare. Not fancy, but good quality. Portuguese sweet bread toast is worth the extra buck. Fish hash is also a good pick.

This place is absolutely unbelievable. Amazing service and the food was even better. The atmosphere makes you feel as if you were at home. I know I said it once but I can't stress enough how great the food is. Wish I could give 6 stars.

always a great breakfast! Ya gotta try the codfish hash... its fresh as can be. The Chorico omelettes cant be beat and the Portuguese sweet bread french toast is a staple of this great no frills diner and its very clean. I hit there whenever I'm in town.

Ate there 1.24.12 for breakfast and it was great. We were seated right away at at the window table looking over picturesque Bristol Harbor. Was served coffee right away and ordered two eggs, ham(large portion of real ham), fried potatoes and wheat bread. My wife ordered the "Booby O" vegetarian omelet(which had nice thick slices of green pepper, onion, mushroom and just the right amount of cheese). The people were great along with the whole experience. We will be going there again. Having worked in this business, I appreciate a job done right. I have read some of the bad reviews and feel that some, if not all of these people, sound like they would not have been happy anywhere they ate that day. They are probably use to being pampered by their mother and nursed into a better mood. Which means, they should have eaten at home.

A Bristol tradition. Great food in a funky, noisy atmosphere. If you're looking for a quiet spot for breakfast, this isn't it. But if you want a great breakfast in a fun atmosphere, this is it.

If I could give 0 starts I would. I had been there many times before (I am a Bristolian, Born and raised) and the service is always slow but the food is usually worth it. I turned 21 last Monday and yesterday was my first Friday night on the town and I thought I'd get a nice greasy hang over cure breakfast. Instead, I got the worst service I have ever had. We walked in and were seated right away (around 9:30am), our drink orders were taken and our drinks were there quickly. Then the waiting began. The brunette waitress who sat us stood around at the counter while we waited. At one point my friend flagged her down and she told us the other waitress (a redhaired older woman) would be with us shortly. We flagged her down and she told us we were in the brunette's section. We put down exactly $4.25 down for our drinks and walked out. I have never had worst service and I will not be returning there. I will also be advising everyone I know against going there.

My boyfriend is a life time Bristol resident and has raved about this place for years. He finally took me here on Sunday and I have to say I was very disappointed. My scrambled eggs were runny, the corned beef hash was like Alpo and they served everything with unsalted butter. Maybe it was just an off morning but I have no desire to go back. I do have to admit the grilled sweet bread and coffee were fantastic. Service was just ok but I liked that they kept topping off my coffee.

Ive been going here for about a year now since I moved to Bristol. Food is good, coffee is always hot and fresh and the prices are excelent! No matter what you get the food will taste good. They always have toys and treats for the kids. My daughter always walks out with a new toy when we go. My only complaint is sometimes the service is very slow. The same woman taking your order and serving your food is usually cooking at the same time. The service is friendly but just dont except the place to be quiet. The staff yells and it has a very loud atmosphere. Perfect place to bring my noisy active toddler :)

Great little spot. The Mickey special is $2.95 for 2 eggs, 2 pieces of toast, and some home fries. Best deal. Great food and great people.

One of my favorite dive diners. No better place to nurse your hangover. I like to come here at least once ever time i'm in Bristol. It's really about the experience as much as the food. Great access from the water via the town dinghy dock next to the white cannon. Most of the staff is hard of hearing so the noise level can be quite elevated. They are pretty disorganized and the service can be inconsistent, especially if they're busy. But who cares. That's not why you're here. The food is generally quite good and the portions are generous. The home made sweet Italian sausage is not on the menu, but ask for it. It's to die for. Perhaps literally.

This place has been open for many years. It's not your typical classic diner with stainless steel walls, jukebox, and stainless steel counter, but rather a nautical looking diner from the outside, and very "white" on the inside. The inside could use some improvements aesthetically (maybe some newer nicer lights than the fluorescent ones and painted walls or ceiling a darker color), however it is clean and bright which is good for breakfast I guess. The food is pretty good and price is excellent. Service is not bad and is certainly "unique" (just don't complain or you risk being yelled at). Don't worry though, everyone is very nice. It's definitely an experience. Bathrooms are really small but they are clean (to give you an idea, they had to cut the door the shape of the edge of the toilet so it could pass by the toilet when you close the door). It could probably use a little more organization at taking orders and service to customers, but all in all, it's not a bad place and is a nice little diner for Bristol. It just needs some organization.

Great place for Sunday morning breakfast. Always busy, but a little disorganized. Our waitress was a waitress AND a cook.. Our pancakes were brought out 15 minutes before the remainder of our breakfast.. But, when the food finally came out, it was delicious.

excellent food, excellent atmosphere, excellent people-- this is a diner! don't expect the ritz!!! 2 visits to the diner--the o'doris is wonderful and i had it both times, second time with fish hash (awesome)!!! my wife and i will always eat here when we visit!!

It is safe to say that my first trip to Hope Diner was in the neighborhood of 35 years ago. We moved to Texas 5 years ago and returned to the Hope for breakfast last Saturday. Warm greetings at the door, slow service, and back home atmosphere were all the things we were hoping to find. The Hope did not disappoint. If you're looking for fast food you should go to a fast food venue and if your looking for haute cuisine and elegant dining you have queued in the wrong line. The investment one makes at a place like the Hope is not measured monetarily. Their food was better than acceptable, the character of the building and setting have not changed, and a quick look around told me the clientele hasn't changed much either. Given time to appreciate through a series of visits most people would find the Hope to be one of those places you simply can't quite catagorize with a quick critique checklist. Once again the food was better than average but for this patron the rest of the experience was outstanding and just what we were looking for. By the way, long lines at the door on weekends and no coddling once you are finally seated should tell you as much about the Hope as any assessment.... in what is generally nothing more than a personal review.

so the food was ok. The service, forget it. We left NO TIP (which we always do). First of all after ten or fifteen minutes we had to ask to put an order in. It took over a half hour to get my french toast, without syrup. ten minutes later we get a side of bacon that was meant for another table. At this time staff were being yelled at in front of ALL the customers. Finally my husband got his meal, 10 minutes later our friend got his...without bacon and toast. We had to ask for refills on our drinks. No apology was made except for the toast being missing, when he did get the toast it was cold, so cold the butter wouldnt melt. It took over an hour from the time we sat to the time we left, unacceptable for breakfast!!! And VERY UNPROFESSIONAL! If staff did something wrong you should not cause a scene, yell at them repeatedly for it in front of customers disrupting our meals, and not come to the table and apologize for anything. Never will go back there again.