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“Ellens Stardust Diner”

Ellen's Stardust Diner
Ranked #767 of 14,770 Restaurants in New York City
Price range: $26 - $35
Cuisines: American, Diner, Deli
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Restaurant details
Good for: Child-friendly
Dining options: Breakfast, After-hours, Dinner, Lunch, Delivery, Reservations, Takeout
Neighbourhood: Midtown
Description: Ellen's Stardust Diner is a retro 1950s theme restaurant located at 1650 Broadway on the southeast corner of 51st Street in Theater District, Manhattan, New York City. The diner is regarded as one of the best theme restaurants in New York. The 1950s-themed eatery is home to its singing waitstaff known as (”Stardusters”). Ellen’s Stardust Diner has since served as the launching pad for many of its waiters/vocalists who have gone on to success in Broadway musicals and touring companies, domestic & international. Our retro 1950s-themed diner is filled with nostalgic memorabilia including the famous “Miss Subways” gallery honoring the beauty queens of a bygone era.
Reviewed 12 January 2025

This place is a must! Very crowded and long lines but worth the wait! The staff was fantastic, and the atmosphere was over the top, so glad we were able to get in!!!

Date of visit: December 2024
    • Value
    • Atmosphere
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    • Food
Thank JUDY N
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviews (23,387)
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30 - 34 of 23,387 reviews

Reviewed 11 January 2025

We had a booked dinner for over 30 people so we didn't have to wait like most of the other patrons - they were lined up for over an hour!
It is 2 levels - we were seated on the top level and you overlook the performers below - the performers also come up to the 2nd level to sing.
The performers were great - however the food was basic at it's best and nothing worth writing home about.

Date of visit: December 2024
    • Value
    • Atmosphere
    • Service
    • Food
Thank Sharon D
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 11 January 2025

We decided to eat here after being recommended to from a few friends. We waited in a very long line but my daughters were excited to experience inside so we stuck it out. Once seated we were squashed in a drafty booth near the front door. I realised quickly after looking at the menu that this was going to be an expensive meal but excepted that you were really paying for the experience.
The singing/entertainment was good, the food was rubbish, the place was scruffy and dirty, but I was trying to go with it and enjoy myself.
The begging bucket was uncomfortable, but we put something in it, again to go along with it.
Then finally we got the bill, now I'd been trying to use up cash that I'd taken with me to America but I didn't have enough to cover the whole bill so I asked our server Courtney if I could pay my bill with card and the 20% ($40) service charge with cash, he immediately became abrupt and basically rude, pointing out that in the USA tips are the wages of staff, I tried to explain that I was tipping him, just with cash, which I proceeded to hand to him. By this point he had totally lost his cool and just threw our tip back onto the table saying keep it!!
This encounter totally spoilt our whole visit and even the parts we had enjoyed were totally ruined.
I would never go again and will tell everyone about this awful experience.

Date of visit: January 2025
1  Thank Katie H
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 11 January 2025 via mobile

The food was terrible with cold, dry and tasteless pancakes and maple syrup that was clearly not the real deal and was served in a bowl.
The servers were amazing and the reality is that is why people visit but the over-priced and terrible fare is dragging the servers down.

Date of visit: January 2025
Thank Wanderer632487
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 9 January 2025

On December 8th, a few of my coworkers and I went into the city to see Anne, the Broadway play (which I highly recommend, by the way). As part of our planning, we decided to have lunch at Ellen’s Stardust Diner.

The day of, after walking around and doing some shopping, we headed over to the diner and stood in line at the entrance.

Let me just say, your experience starts right there. Before I even get into how amazing this place is, you need to understand that Ellen’s Stardust Diner is a hot spot in the city. You will wait for a table—sometimes for a long time—especially if you’re a small party of two or four.

So, what did our group of four do? We made friends with a mother and daughter who were also waiting in line. We planned to sit together and figure out the bill later, which worked out perfectly. Instead of waiting the 50+ minutes we were originally told, we only waited about 20 minutes—and honestly, we would have been happy to wait even longer.

Now, here’s the part you’re really curious about: This place is phenomenal. It’s nothing short of a theatrical, marvelously dramatic, awe-inspiring, and thoroughly entertaining experience. Most people might think you’re coming here for the food—and yes, the food is good—but really, you’re here for the show that just so happens to serve food.

I had gotten a juicy Mozzarella Cheese Burger, with crispy bacon and barbeque sauce and our table shared some home made mozzarella cheese "sticks". The food is Diner food, but the atmosphere makes it way better.

Date of visit: December 2024
    • Value
    • Atmosphere
    • Service
    • Food
Thank kgduffy72
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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