The Diner is one of Adams Morgan's finest establishments, right up there with Jumbo Slice. Think of that diner where Seinfeld and his friends hung out. Did you ever want to hang out in a place like... More

The Diner is one of Adams Morgan's finest establishments, right up there with Jumbo Slice. Think of that diner where Seinfeld and his friends hung out. Did you ever want to hang out in a place like that in the morning? (No, IHOP and Denny's don't count.) Anyway, the Diner fits every mood you're in. Want pancakes at 4 in the morning? Go to The Diner. Want some glazed swordfish or maybe you're craving a steak? Go to The Diner. Hung over and just need something to eat? The Diner is your friend. The Diner is situated next to Tryst, another popular Adams Morgan coffeehouse/bar/lounge (they're owned by the same people). Go there if you want a good non-Starbucks coffee and if you're not afraid of yuppies tinkering on their PowerBooks. (Oh, and for you intarweb junkies, the wireless at Tryst is free.) The Diner is relatively small so it may not fare well with groups over six, but groups of 3 or 4 will be seated comfortably. Seating-wise, there are booths, tables, and seats at the counter, like any other diner. The environment ranges from a medium buzz to a cafeteria din. Usually it is louder later at night, so I hope you and your dining companions aren't going to have philosophical conversations over hot wings and meatloaf. Getting a seat really depends on your timing. A wait can be 20 minutes to an hour. I've been pretty lucky and have only waited about 20 minutes for seating for two people. Service here ranges from attentive to spotty--they'll take down your order, bring you food, and maybe check up on you, but they mostly leave you alone. Sometimes they mysteriously disappear when you need to request the check. I've only been to this place a couple of times, so my reviews are going to consist of a few dishes: Hot Chocolate It was cold outside. Hot chocolate was nothing exceptional (was probably instant powdered mix) but it hit the spot. Roasted Rosemary Chicken with mashed potatoes & haricots verts A huge plate. With a lot of chicken. Might have been half or a quarter, but my 120lb self devoured it all. Crisp skin, succulent meat, juicy, light and herby. Mashed potatoes were homemade with lumps. Haricot verts are French green beans, and these were steamed. They look and taste like regular sring beans to me. French Toast: Thick-sliced, topped with powdered sugar My boyfriend had this. His reaction was the same as the last review re: hot and sour soup from Mr Chen's. He likes French Toast and this was good. Overall, this meal set us back about $22 excluding tax and tip. My chicken cost about $12.99 and my boyfriend's French toast was either $7.99 or $8.99. He may have had something extra with his meal but since we ate here around late October of last year, so our memories are a little fuzzy. And here are some other items I've tried since my first visit: Big Fries (lots) They really do mean "lots" of fries. These are the yummy steak-cut kind. No big secret recipe, just fries. Chicken Tenders Just your average tenders. Not bad but not out of this world, either. Grilled Center-Cut Pork Chop Mine was slightly overcooked and hard to slice and chew. However, the bourbon-apple glaze was great, as are the mashed potatoes and string beans. Overall, I'm glad that a place like the Diner exisits. It's so frustrating to find a place to sit down and have a meal in a town that pretty much closes down at 10 pm (when it comes to restaurants, at least). We'll be back to ear here again, I'm sure.
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I love The Diner because it was one of the few non-late night Pizza options in Adams Morgan. Please don’t expect a 5 star meal, this is a typical diner that provides quality diner food. I usually... More

I love The Diner because it was one of the few non-late night Pizza options in Adams Morgan. Please don’t expect a 5 star meal, this is a typical diner that provides quality diner food. I usually order the breakfast plate or the hamburger, both are quality options. The service is usually very attentive even when they get a large late night dining rush. I’ve never had a bad experience.
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Stuck smack in the middle of the Adams Morgan District, The Diner is a great place to go when a slice of pizza at 3 in the morning won't cut it. The atmosphere inside Diner is comfortable and a... More

Stuck smack in the middle of the Adams Morgan District, The Diner is a great place to go when a slice of pizza at 3 in the morning won't cut it. The atmosphere inside Diner is comfortable and a little dark which makes it the perfect place for a hang over meal. Grilled cheese here is done right-a perfect combination of squishy cheese and crisp bread. The mashed potatoes are also great. Prices at the Diner are about average for the late night DC area and service is good.
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The Diner is always hopping, given it’s 24-hour open door policy. I love how they don’t mind how you come in or how you’re dressed. The food is standard diner food, and it’s all right. I suppose... More

The Diner is always hopping, given it’s 24-hour open door policy. I love how they don’t mind how you come in or how you’re dressed. The food is standard diner food, and it’s all right. I suppose its much better when you go there at 3am when everything else is closed! The service was really nice- our server gave us free ice cream because they were out of a dessert we requested…
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In a city where the 7-elevens are open from 7am to 11pm and the streets empty out promptly at 5pm on Friday, it's a relief to find a place where you can get grub at any hour of the day or... More

In a city where the 7-elevens are open from 7am to 11pm and the streets empty out promptly at 5pm on Friday, it's a relief to find a place where you can get grub at any hour of the day or night. While not your traditional diner and priced a bit higher, the diner is without a doubt a great place for food after a late night of drinking or studying. The milkshakes are awesome, the cheese fries are delish, and you'll burn your tongue trying to eat the mac and cheese before it cools off.
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