20 Best New England Diners

By Tanya Edwards and Amy Traverso

The dawn of the diner arrived in 1872 when Walter Scott, a pressman for the Providence Morning Star, cut windows in a small covered wagon and parked it in front of the newspaper’s offices to lure hungry reporters and printers on the night shift. He sat inside, selling sandwiches, coffee, and pies, and through this clever bit of entrepreneurship, the primordial diner was born.

It didn’t take long for Scott’s idea to catch on and evolve, and by the late 1880s a former lunch-counter boy named Thomas H. Buckley began manufacturing diner cars in Worcester, Massachusetts. Within a decade, the Worcester Lunch Car Company was producing gleaming dining cars in porcelain enamel, Formica, and stainless steel, many of which are still in use today. By 1957, the company had turned out more than 600 cars that eventually found homes all around the world.

For many family owners, these diners were an affordable gateway to restaurant entrepreneurship and the American Dream. One generation scrimped, griddled, and fried up an inheritance and passed it on to the next. Over time, they might add a bigger dining room off the back or just replace the old floor tiles. Or move the business entirely to a strip mall but keep the menu and the retro feel.

Others have taken the form and given it a more personalized spin. At Palace Diner in Biddeford, Maine, two chefs with classical training, Greg Mitchell and Chad Conley, became darlings of national media and the James Beard Foundation by serving thought-out,next-level takes on classic flapjacks and tuna salad sandwiches. At the A1 Diner in Gardiner, Maine, owner Aaron Harris added soba noodles and flatbreads to his menu. But these places never stray so far as to lose their sense of familiarity.

Most of us intuitively grasp the appeal of diners. It’s the constancy, the lack of pretense, the affordability, the comfort food. And often that comes in the form of a dining car with Formica counters, vinyl booths, and neon signs. But not all great diners are housed in lunch cars, and not all lunch car diners are great. We wanted to bring you 20 of our favorites, all places that are worth seeking out on your next drive. To compile this list, we looked for diners that make great food, of course, but we also wanted a bit of personality, a nod to yesteryear, efficient and friendly service, and hearty and well-priced portions. So find one near you, or make a special trip.

20 Best New England Diners

Best Connecticut Diners

O’Rourke’s Diner, Middletown

Since 1941, this landmark diner has served a lineup of classics plus a signature Connecticut-style steamed burger. Not familiar with the latter? Also known as a steamer or “cheeseburg,” it’s a patty that’s steamed in a special stainless steel cabinet, making the buns softer and the meat even juicier than those of its griddle-cooked brethren. Crowds also flock here for Irish favorites, including a lovely soda bread that’s used in the stellar French toast (all baking is done in-house). Beyond the food, O’Rourke’s is worth a trip just to take in the distinctive MountainView aluminum car. In 2006, the car suffered major damage from a fire that began in the burger steamer. Thanks to a community fund-raising campaign, O’Rourke’s reopened one year later. You’ll be grateful for those generous locals when you’re tucking into a Brian’s Breakfast, which is whatever unexpected feast the chef feels like making that morning, or the Irish Delight: corned beef hash with eggs, praete oaten (oat and potato cakes), and Irish brown bread. Breakfast and lunch only; orourkesmiddletown.com

Zip’s Diner, Dayville

The towering neon “EAT” sign rising above Zip’s Diner calls like a siren song to hungry travelers in Connecticut’s otherwise Quiet Corner. Inside the vintage O’Mahony diner car, the counter is lined with red vinyl-covered stools, and each booth is graced with an old-school consolette jukebox. With unfailingly friendly service, Zip’s serves diner staples with a side of nostalgia: Yes, there are pancakes, omelets, and corned beef hash, but you’ll also find Yankee pot roast, chicken-fried steak, and baked puddings, as well as Italian-accented specials like osso bucco and chicken parm. Stephen King fans, take note: Zip’s was featured in his novel 11/22/63. Facebook

Uncle D’s, East Berlin

Hot-off-the-griddle comfort food is a point of pride for Uncle D’sowner Darren Anderson, who, after delivering bread to the 1960s-era diner for years, took over the business from the retiring owner in 2013. While set in an unassuming strip mall, Uncle D’s is pure retro charm within(think: vinyl booths, checkerboard floor, lots of chrome and stainless steel). This diner specializes in big, rib-sticking breakfasts and pancakes the size of hubcaps, but what draws locals is the Cadillac Taco: double layers of flour and corn tortillas with refried beans, meat, cheese, salsa, and sour cream that’s nearly big enough for two. While it might not clear the bar for authenticity, it’s darned tasty. Breakfast and lunch only; uncleds-diner.com

Best Maine Diners

Palace Diner, Biddeford

Where do we start with the famed Palace Diner, the top diner in New England and home to what is arguably the best tuna melt in the country? The 15-seat diner car was built in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1927 and has lived in Biddeford its whole life. The current iteration was opened by Greg Mitchell and Chad Conley in 2014, and the duo have been serving diner classics, perfectly prepared, ever since. What shines here is the attention to every detail and a perfect balance in flavor and texture, as evidenced by that tuna melt, in which the crunch of iceberg lettuce is a welcome contrast to the buttery grilled challah and tuna salad. Other highlights: French toast served with real maple syrup, and the ultra-crisp, ultra-juicy fried chicken. Breakfast and lunch only; palacedinerme.com

Moody’s, Waldoboro

An iconic stop on the way Down East since 1927, this cozy eatery run by five generations of the Moody family is beloved for its house-made pies (particularly the four-berry and the chocolate cream), Indian pudding, and doughnuts. But don’t stop at sweets. The clam chowder is excellent, as are the fresh crab rolls, once universal and now increasingly rare because the picking is so labor-intensive. Not a seafood lover? The Moody’s Reuben is made with sauerkraut from Morse’s, just down the road. Hard-core traditionalists might partake of the liver and onions washed down with a cold glass of Moxie. But Moody’s is about more than the food. If you want to go deep on Moody’s place in the Maine psyche, check out the book What’s Cooking at Moody’s Diner: 75 Years of Recipes and Remembrances. moodysdiner.com

Brunswick Diner, Brunswick

For more than 70 years, this landmark red diner, a railcar in a past life, has been winning over fans with fluffy omelets, chicken and waffles, and lobster rolls. Walking inside is a step back in time, with a chrome-and-glitter-covered Wurlitzer jukebox spinning Elvis Presley and Bobby Darin. Tuck yourself into a tiny booth or grab a stool at the counter, and note the student-friendly specials, like dollar wings and the Bowdoin Bowl(tater tots and Brussels sprouts with cheddar, bacon, poached eggs, and hollandaise). The cash-only spot has a well-earned reputation for great, locally sourced food at a good price. Breakfast and lunch only; brunswickdiner.com

A1 Diner, Gardiner

Even in a state known for its food scene, this 1940s Worcester Lunch diner perched on stilts near the Kennebec river still comes as a gourmet surprise. Owner Aaron Harris—who has worked at the A1 since the early aughts and took over in 2018—never rests on his laurels. Yes, you can always get basics like red-eye hash and a tuna salad plate, but don’t sleep on the specials, including Maine crab Benedict, soba noodles, and a Reuben breakfast sandwich that got the attention of the Food Network. Facebook

Best Massachusetts Diners

Miss Florence Diner, Florence

If you attended college in the Happy Valley, you probably have fond memories of hitting Miss Flo’s for a late, possibly bleary-eyed breakfast. Opened in 1941, it checks all the retro boxes, including the consolette jukeboxes. But the food is the real draw. Here you’ll find mainstays like the terrific banana bread French toast and homemade corned beef hash served with poached eggs that break and ooze, turning a humble dish into something luxurious. For lunch, there are piled-high NewYork–style deli sandwiches and a rotating menu of soups made from scratch. And while any good diner boasts friendly staff, the crew here at Miss Flo’s deserves particular praise. Breakfast and lunch only; missflorencediner.com

Johnny’s Roadside Diner, Hadley

Just down the road from UMass Amherst, this chrome-and-neon beauty beckons hungry wayfarers with a menu stocked with malted waffles, breakfast bowls, BLTs on sourdough, and a seriously fun menu of boozy and virgin shakes (as in,chocolate-cherry with a slice of pie on the rim). The Yee family, best known for Chicopee’s Hu Ke Lau and Springfield’s Student Prince, took over the diner in 2018 and have put the focus here on top-notch, from-scratch cooking. Breakfast and lunch only; johnnysroadside.com

Rosebud American Kitchen & Bar, Somerville

When this historic diner in DavisSquare was sold in 2014, it switched gears from familiar diner fare to a more chef-driven menu. But in this case, change is good. Sip a killer cocktail, nibble on elevated favorites like truffle mac ’n’ cheese, or revel in the Korean barbecue sandwiches. While the old-school painted exterior remains, the inside has been turned into a cozy booth-filled space with loads of warm wood. Most important, the Rosebudhasarguably the best boozy milkshakes in town (don’t miss the Fluff shake spiked with Evan Williams bourbon). rosebudkitchen.com

Miss Worcester Diner, Worcester

The Miss Worcester is a lot like its home city: unpretentious and a little gritty but warm, buzzing with energy, and food-forward. Here, the French toast menu alone lists two dozen options (including banana bread, apple pie, Boston cream pie, and the cornflake-crusted crunchy kind) the corned beef hash and biscuits are homemade, and the home fries are perfectly seasoned. Walk in and marvel at the hundreds of stickers decorating the ceiling and walls—they were added during the pandemic, when the diner pivoted to take-out-only service and the booths felt empty and in need of some spiffing up. Even if it’s your first time there, the servers will call you “hon,” and that’s a nice feeling. Breakfast and lunch only; missworcesterdiner.com

The Galley Diner, South Boston

Southie’s favorite diner may not look like much on the outside, but inside you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere and quite possibly the best corned beef hash in the country. It’s also one of a handful of spots Anthony Bourdain visited for his No Reservations tour of South Boston. (He later tweeted of the hash, “Superb. Feel like the Hindenburg.”) A trip to the Galley is a taste of old Boston c. 1960, and current owner Paul Skudris wants to keep this 12-stool counter exactly as it’s always been. If you don’t want Bourdain’s favorite hash, try the meatloaf sandwich or turkey with all the fixings. Breakfast and lunch only; thegalleydiner.com

Best New Hampshire Diners

Tilt’n Diner, Tilton

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the Tilt’n Diner is always hopp’n. Since 1992, it has been a stop for nearly every presidential hopeful, serving up hearty comfort classics in a retro setting so steeped in 1950s nostalgia that oldies play on every speaker. The all-day breakfast menu is just one section in a 100-item-plus lineup that includes big melty sandwiches, ooey-gooey mac ’n’ cheese, turkey pot pie, and a chicken tenders platter that’s perfect for kids. Add on a full-service bar—plus a Tootsie Roll with your check—and you’ve got a winning recipe. thecman.com/tilt-n-diner

Gilley’s, Portsmouth

A favorite no-frills refueling stop for New England road trippers, Gilley’s is a 1940 Worcester-built dining car that for years was towed by truck each day to its waiting customers in MarketSquare. Now permanently rooted on Fleet Street (and with its original truck as part of the setting), Gilley’shas no booths, just stools arranged in a U shape along the windows, but that doesn’t deter the patrons craving burgers covered in rich chili and hotdogs that Food & Wine recently tapped as the best in the state. Lunch, dinner, and late-night only; gilleysdiner.com

Littleton Diner, Littleton

Originally built in Merrimac, Massachusetts, the Littleton Diner opened in 1928 and was rehomed in a new Sterling Streamliner in 1940. The same structure stands today, serving New England classics cooked from scratch, using local ingredients whenever possible. The Williford family, who bought the diner in 2003, rightfully proud of their homemade hash, but they put extra care into all their food, making pancakes with flour from the nearby Littleton GristMill (they come in buckwheat, wholewheat, and buttermilk varieties), and the maple syrup is local and real. The pies, bread pudding, carrot cake, and apple crisp are all homemade, and in a nod to the past they even have franks and beans. But there’s novelty, too: The Irish Sandwich is a fun take on a Reuben, offering corned beef, smoked gouda, and steamed cabbage on ciabatta.littletondiner.com

Best Rhode Island Diners

Modern Diner, Pawtucket

The first diner to make it onto the National Register of Historic Places, this Sterling Streamliner is an ideal representation of the 1940s diner car. The chef-owned eatery is best known for Portuguese-inflected brunches, attracting diners from as far as Boston. Stop to read the long list of specials by the front door, but don’t miss the lobster and cheese grits studded with hunks of buttery meat (when the convivial server asks if you’d like to add Mozambique sauce, say yes to this garlicky umami bomb). And while the strawberry crepes are top-notch, we’re hard-pressed to pass up the linguica hash Benedict or the oatmeal brûlée. Breakfast and lunch only; moderndinerri.com

Jigger’s Diner, East Greenwich

The beautifully restored 1950s diner car welcomes patrons in with affable servers, mugs of fresh-roasted coffee, and a fantastic Johnny Cake Combo (cornmeal pancakes with eggs and sausage). But don’t let that stop you from trying the impossibly fluffy lemon ricotta–studded French toast with blueberry compote. The burgers and chowder don’t disappoint, and, because you’re in Rhode Island, you’ll need to order the coffee cabinet, made with ice cream, milk, and co ee syrup. Breakfast andlunch only; jiggersdiner.com

Best Vermont Diners

The Blue Benn, Bennington

This classic Silk City diner car from New Jersey’s PatersonWagon Company was shipped and assembled on-site in 1948. With its bright blue awnings to shield waiting patrons from wet weather, it’s a charmer, but look beyond the iconic stylings (yes, there are little consolette jukeboxes) to the menu of breakfast burritos, fluffy omelets, cornbread French toast, burgers, and hand-cut fries. Current ownerJohn Getchell is a BenningtonCollege grad who took over from the Monroe family, who ran it for47 years, and he brings his wit to the letterboard sign out front with such quips as “Sometimes Bigfoot is confused with Sasquatch, Yeti never complains.” Breakfast and lunch only; bluebenn.com

Chelsea Royal Diner, Brattleboro

Local sourcing is a point of pride at this Vermont icon: The beef is all grass-fed, and owner Janet Picard sources some of her veggies and eggs from her own garden. Housed in a 1938 Worcester Lunch Cardiner, the Chelsea Royal specializes in homemade pies, house-smoked brisket, crabcake Benedict, and homemade ice cream (try the Vermont Maple Latte). Note: As of press time, the diner is listed for sale and awaiting its next steward. chelsearoyaldiner.com

Country Girl Diner, Chester

This 1944 Silk City Silver began its life in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, but settled down in Chester in 1966. And the menu hasn’t changed much since, which we consider a very good thing. Don’t miss the patty melt (a burger with caramelized onions and Swiss on rye) or the Stowe BreakfastSandwich (two eggs, cheddar, and bacon on a grilled, buttered bulkie roll). Pancakes are buttermilk and can be made with berries or chocolate chips, but note the savory cakes made with ham, scallions, and cheddar. Antique-car lovers gather here on Saturday nights in the summer for live music, snacks, and BYOB. Breakfast and lunch year-round, evening snack bar hours in summer; countrygirldiner.com

This feature first appeared in the March/April 2023 issue of Yankee Magazine