Countless Celebrities Have Loved This Iconic New York Diner For Decades
By Christy Articola|Published March 10, 2023
×
Christy Articola
Author
Christy Articola has lived in Colorado since 2013 and considers herself a Centennial State enthusiast and expert through and through. She's based in Denver metro, but over the past decade, she has traveled to every corner, river, village, park, town, and city in the state and continues to explore it deeper and further whenever she can. Christy simply can't get enough of Colorado, and loves sharing all her adventures with you through Only In Your State! She graduated with a degree in journalism from Fordham University and is thrilled to be working as a full time travel writer for this and other sites - she finally found her perfect niche - and is so grateful for that.
Are you interested in dining at a famous diner in New York that was once popular with a wide variety of celebrities? If so, you’ll love the Empire Diner on the corner of West 22nd Street and 10th Avenue in Chelsea in Manhattan. This diner has appeared in countless movies and television shows, and it was a regular haunt for some of the biggest names of the 1980s. Read on to learn more about it, and to learn how it’s changed over the years to become what it is today.
The Empire Diner was built by a company that built diners - the Fodero Dining Car Company - in 1946. It served as a diner for many years, and then it was abandoned for many years. It was refurbished and reopened in 1976.
It's well-known and very recognizable, due to its gorgeous Art Deco exterior, plus the miniature Empire State Building on the roof.
During the 1980s and 1990s, this diner was popular with celebrities. Steven Spielberg dined there. So did actors Josh Brolin, Ethan Hawke, Kate Winslet, John Cazale, and Minnie Driver.
Breakfast is served until 4:00 p.m. daily. Everybody knows that diners are great for breakfast, and that's certainly true here. You might enjoy the rye pancakes, which come with caramelized apples, apple butter, and vermont maple syrup, for example.
How about a perfect grilled cheese with gruyere, white cheddar, and balsamic apple chutney on toasted filone? Get some roasted tomato bisque on the side.
You may not think about going to a diner for dinner, but you should. We suggest the meatloaf with Yukon mashed potatoes, roasted baby carrots, and tomato glaze, but everything on the menu is worth ordering.
The Empire Diner is not to be missed! You’ll love dining here when visiting the Chelsea neighborhood in New York City. You’ll likely need a reservation, so be sure to make one in advance.
