Jay M.
Yelp
My visit to Top's Diner on a Friday night turned out to be a pretty big letdown overall. Despite having reservations, we still waited about 30 minutes to be seated, which made the whole point of reserving feel pointless. To pass the time, we headed to the bar, where I had a Woodford Reserve Smoked Old Fashioned, and my girlfriend tried the Mango Bay Breeze. Both drinks were solid and strong, but at nearly $45 for both, they felt overpriced. The vibe inside was modern and had a lounge feel with a DJ playing music nonstop through the night.
Once we were seated, I ordered an American Trilogy (their version of an Old Fashioned) and a Stir It Up, a pineapple-based drink. Both were good, with my American Trilogy being particularly strong, which hit the spot.
For appetizers, we went with the Firecracker Shrimp, which seemed to be the most popular choice. Unfortunately, it was just okay. There was way too much mayo in the sauce, overpowering the shrimp. They did give a decent portion, but the flavor left much to be desired. I wouldn't recommend it, and I'm not sure why it's so popular here.
For entrees, we ordered the Shanghai Steak Bowl and the Crybaby Noodles with the combo (steak, shrimp, and chicken). The Shanghai Steak Bowl was disappointing, it was bland, soggy, and worse than takeout lo mein. While the portion of meat was generous, the overall flavor and texture were major letdowns, and I barely ate more than a few bites before deciding to take it to go. The Crybaby Noodles were better, with a decent level of spice and a good amount of meat, but still lacked the authentic flavors I was hoping for. It felt like a missed opportunity for both dishes.
To end the meal, we tried the Vanilla Bourbon Bread Pudding, which was quite good, featuring candied pecans, cinnamon, and whipped cream. However, the presence of raisins (which I detest) was a downside for me. I've noticed they tend to add raisins to several desserts here, as I had the same issue with their carrot cake on a previous visit.
One bright spot of the meal was the Cuban coffee I had to finish. It was perfectly sweetened, with great foam and latte art. Honestly, it was the best thing I had all night and might be the only reason I'd consider returning.
Our waiter, Alberto, was attentive and friendly, offering good recommendations throughout the night. There was one hiccup when we received the wrong drink, but he handled it well, removing it from the order without issue.
Overall, my first sit-down visit to Top's Diner was underwhelming. The reservation system seems useless, the drinks are overpriced, and while the portions are generous, the flavor is lacking. I'm leaning towards not returning anytime soon.