Eye on the Street
Decatur Metro | February 24, 2011
East Ponce de Leon Ave. Decatur, GA (pic submitted by Rod T)
East Ponce de Leon Ave. Decatur, GA (pic submitted by Rod T)
Latest from Decaturish
Avondalian
Pat
At Home in Decatur
At Home in Decatur
lyn menne
TomL
brianc
smith
GreenTea
Michael
spreak
spreak
DEM
Monty
Bullseye
That picture has some energy to it!
What are all those mannequins doing inside this building?
I just had lunch there- service was quick even though the place was full, and I enjoyed my Greek Salad.
obviously photoshopped.
this is turning into the greatest hoax since the moon landing.
#shenanigans
We ate ate there last weekend. There was a twenty minute wait but then they served us very quickly with a ton of food. I can’t remember when 45 bucks bought so much food. We had three meals off of that night. The food was pretty good for a diner.
Gotta say that I watched the construction process over the last year+ and was all but convinced that they would not be able to live up to the anticipation.
I went there last Friday with my wife and mother and enjoyed dinner very much. My wife was less impressed (ordinary omelet), but my 80 year old mother (visiting from up north) is still talking about how much she loved the food, attention and excitement…and of course…the cheesecake.
I would give them a B- and look forward to going again with my teenage kids.
Everyone should try it at least once to give it a fair chance.
Everytime I go by the place is packed. I’m going to go one night at 3 AM when I can’t sleep. Did I just write that? Seems like a few years ago I would have said after a concert and various libation serving establishments, I would stop by at 3 or 4 on my way home…
How long until the novelty wears off?
Not sure it is a novelty. I don’t care for it, but it seems to have filled a void in Decatur: diner food after 3pm.
Do they serve booze?
Sadly, no.
Like the idea and their food may be good but the design of the place is horrible – so ugly. Too bad they didn’t take a cue or get the number of the architect / designer of Leon’s. What a stark contrast in design taste between the two. It is like tastefully smart contemporary design across the street from Jersey Shore.
Jersey Shore–that’s it! I’ve been trying to describe the ambience of the Decatur Diner and couldn’t hit upon the right analogy. Since I have fond memories, however tacky, of the Jersey Shore, I find the Diner nostalgic. The excellent matzo ball soup and fluffy bland desserts fit the image.
I noticed last time I was there that they were offering specialty coffees like capuccino and lattes. Has anyone tried them? Are they bona fide or vending machine style? That might tip the balance in my morning breakfast decisions. Diner food is nostalgic but I’m picky about my caffeine.
After having eaten there last night, I am ready to forgive any aesthetic extravagances.
Had dinner at the diner Wednesday night. Started with the matzo ball soup and it was yummy. I had the Decatur Chicken sandwich – it was huge and the chicken was tender and seasoned well. Hubby had the Gyro and he loved it. He had the Greek potatoes and they were outstanding. I will be ordering those next time. Kiddo had the grilled cheese. It was very good food at a very good price with very good service. And on the way out the owner / manager gave my son a giant cookie!
Lots of employees and owner are smoking. Is that an employment thing? Does it smell like cigarette smoke inside and on servers? It is choking to walk by and breathe in the smoke on our way to yogurt.
Doesn’t the city have a nonsmoking ordinance right outside a business?
Guess I will find out in my Decatur 101 class.
The City and County both have no-smoking ordinances. If they’re smoking on duty, the health deportment would be interested also.
Could you cite the ordinance you imply they violate?
Anyone remember the Atlanta Bread Company in that same location? That seems like ages ago.
There is no ordinance against a restaurant employee smoking while on duty….as long as he/she is doing it outside and washes hands afterward. Let’s not hold the diner to a higher standard than our other establishments. Ever seen the back door of Twain’s? Almost always a server or cook smoking. Leon’s? Same thing….usually outside of the side door on Church Street. I suppose it is easier to tell that the smoker is a diner emplyee because of the uniform, but they are NOT doing anything that the workers in our other food establishments are not already doing.
Another experience as in dinner for 5:
– Good wait service
– No wait but place was busy
– Food slightly slow but nothing remarkable
– I liked the free spanokopita–maybe it’s bland but I like it that way
– Cole slaw tasty–some zest but not too much
– Chocolate milkshake good
– Dinner rolls good
– Onion rings reportedly good
– Ditto for kids spagetti with butter only
– BLT good except the bacon is an extremely salty variety
– Baklava perhaps a little bland
– French fries were fine according to kids, but not the style that I prefer, too salty and seasoned
– Greek potatoes ARE extremely vinegary but I kind of liked them anyway–one child who can eat anything said “TART!!!”
– Cookies still big and bland
– Same child who can eat anything did not like the chicken fingers–very strange
At this point, after three visits, my judgment is:
– Diner fills a niche evidently
– You have to find your favorite items and stick to them
– For me, some of the food is too salty and over-seasoned
– Desserts are prettier than they are tasty
– Expect quantity
– The otherwise pleasant outdoor ambience is ruined by the ubiquitous staff smoking around the doors and patio area
I need to try breakfast items and specialty coffees soon to round out my view.