Clayton Diner

Gee I dunno about this place…
20 dollars and change for chili/​cheeseburger LTPO/​and pancakes/​bacon/​juice? It seemed a bit much for the quality, which was mediocre at best
In addition, miscommunication when ordering? Padded bill? It’s not clear, and that’s a problem, but really I was charged about 4 – 5 dollars more than I should have been. Won’t be back!

Once you’ve stepped inside Clayton Diner, you’ll forget you’re in Clayton. It’s small. It’s not overly shiny, but it’s clean. It doesn’t try to impress with flashiness. The TV was on some troubleshooting channel that I didn’t know existed.
This morning was cool and windy, so I ordered a hot chocolate. The waiter/​cook told us that another employee was picking up hot chocolate and that it would be here soon. I sipped on water.
I love it when I can see my food being cooked!
Three of the party ordered some tasty pancakes. The waiter/​cook brought us syrup, but no butter. When a gentleman in our party requested butter, it was delivered a minute later, but it was frozen. We thawed it in our hands a little and then let the warm pancakes do the rest. The other individual got the breakfast special with meat and rarely spoke during the meal, which means she enjoyed it.
I never received hot chocolate, though a box of it was waiting on the counter by the time I settled the bill. However, by the time the pancakes arrived, I wouldn’t have had time to sip the hot chocolate at a leisurely pace, and I wasn’t charged for it, so no biggie.
The prices are great! Four people ate for like $ 20.
If I worked in Clayton, I could see myself going here at least once a month for breakfast or for lunch. However, I’m rarely in Clayton, so I can’t say when I’ll go again. It’s certainly worth a try, and you might like it.

Absolutely horrible. Went in on a quiet Saturday morning. One table occupied, no one at the bar. I sat at the bar and was totally ignored. Another patron came in, sat at the bar and was served immediately as a «regular.» Nothing strange transpired in my behavior. The place is tiny and one can’t be missed. I was simply ignored. The place is truly filthy. I love greasy spoons, but not like this. Too bad, because a simple, no frills breakfast or lunch in downtown Clayton would be a gem. The other one-​star reviews are accurate, in my opinion.

This is not a fine dining establishment.
If you think slumming is going to Bennigans then this is an eye-​opener for you. The Clayton Diner is a classic counter style diner with a basic southern menu and an extremely helpful staff.
I ordered the Catfish lunch special which came with 2 slices of white bread (for you northerners, white bread is a staple down here) a hand full of fries and a single fried (deep) catfish filet. Accompanied by lettuce, tomato and pickles I could have either made a sandwich out of it or enjoyed it by itself.
Including a beverage to wash it all down and I was set back a mere $ 6 plus change.
Here are my observations:
Establishment was divey but, clean enough for me.
Staff very friendly.
Fish was not as fresh as I would like it, but edible.
The price was decent for the meal.
I will try this place again.

Friendly family run place, but the food left a LOT to be desired. Over-​hard eggs were so overlooked I couldn’t cut them with a fork. Hash browns cooked to death and dry. The biscuits seemed like from a can.
The quality of the bacon was very good and tasty. That was the highlight of the meal. Prices were right and they make a very good cup of tea.
I wouldn’t recommend it.

The worker at this place is extremely rude and has no manners. Their hours of operations are hard to find on their website, they never pick up their phone and when I did find their abnormal hours, I went there 40 minutes before they close. As soon as I opened the door, the worker yelled in my face saying that they are closed. I will never step into this place again!!!

clean, cozy, friendly, family-​run diner in the middle of clayton. a group of us half marathoners were there post race. the service was fast and the serving sizes were generous. they need to work on their coffee and should serve the orange juice in a glass instead of its plastic bottle.

The lady cooking was extremely nice as was her kid helping to serve us. A little slow but a good alternative to the long waits at ½ & ½ and First Watch.

Mmmm… greasy spoon n the heart of Clayton. My breakfast and lunch that I’ve had there over the past month were more nostalgic than extra delicious, but the whole experience goes into my rating.
It’s interesting to discover the place. It is tucked into the long selection of storefront restaurants along Central Ave. Be careful or you will miss it. This place reminds me of the little lunch counter my mom used to take me to as a kid. You have your choice of a row of 4 or 5 tables against the wall, or you can sit at the counter and watch the fry cook. Everything is old school, and looks like it is from several decades ago. However, everything was also clean and well kept. Waitstaff were friendly both times, and service was quick. Of course, for a diner like this, that is what I want and expect.
When I stopped in for breakfast, the counter was pretty open, but most tables were already taken by one or two people at each — except for one table that had a sweater slung over a chair by the wall. I asked if the table was taken, and the waitress said no, as long as I didn’t mind sharing with Miss [forgot her name]. I was fine with that, and when the elderly lady arrived, she was most gracious and inviting. It seems that she is a regular, and the table was being saved for her.
As far as the food, well it’s alright. Breakfast was an over hard egg with toast. It wasn’t bad, but it was exactly what I would have had at home if I had fried up my own egg and put two slices of bread in the toaster. But it was quick, and it was cheap!
The day I had lunch, they had a $ 5 special going. Your choice of two items from hamburger, chili, large fries, or onion rings. I got a burger (no tomato, since that was 40 cents extra) and the large fries. Table mates got onion rings with their burgers. It was still a bit too warm for us to want to try chili. As with lunch, this was food you would have quickly fixed up at home. Fries were frozen crinkle cut that had been deep fried. Onion rings likewise were frozen, deep fried. Burgers were fresh, though! No frozen patties there. They had a good beef flavor, but not quite as much seasoning as I would have liked. Most seemed to come just from the fat in which they fried. Like with breakfast, it was quick and cheap!
One nice, old-​style touch is that water is always brought to your table when you sit down. So if you don’t want coffee, tea, or soda, then you don’t have to specifically request some water.
So overall, there was simplicity from a now gone time, quick & cheap service — but food that was okay, but nothing really special in my opinion.

Went in for a quick lunch today and was sorely disappointed after all the positive feedback I’ve seen. I ordered the biscuits and sausage gravy. The gravy looked and tasted like wall paper paste. Not a single piece of sausage was found in it.
Not to mention the place was absolutely disgusting. The grill hadn’t been cleaned in months or longer, grease was everywhere. This place takes the greasy spoon moniker to new heights. This was my first and last trip to the Clayton Diner.

I went here on a rainy Sunday so we were the only ones in the restaurant. The lady who cooked our food was very friendly and her kids were with her and incredibly well-​behaved and very friendly servers. I loved that her kids were there to help their mama out.
I love the fact that I could order one pancake, eggs, and one piece of french toast. I love sampling the menu whenever I go out to eat and this allowed me to do it on the cheap. I thought the pancakes were ok and eggs were good. The french toast, on the other hand, was AMAZING. Literally some of the best I’ve ever had. It was already sweet, so I didn’t need any syrup. I will definitely hit this place up again for the french toast. Sooo good!

Yum! Great food-​a real diner in every way-​strangely situated in upscale Clayton. A delightful surprise. Cajun omelet was amazing-​and our son loved the biscuits and gravy. For a Wisconsin born boy he sure loves those biscuits.

Wait time over 1 hour for burger & fries. Food was mediocre quality and small portion sizes

Bigger than Tiffany’s but smaller than City Diner, this little diner has some charm. The lady that was the grill chef on the day we visited was a great cook, very friendly, and just enough sass to be thoroughly endearing. I look forward to coming back.
I had the sausage omelet, made with American cheese instead of the standard Cheddar. The American melts better than the cheddar, and I enjoy the flavor better. This came with a right-​sized portion of hashbrowns, and some toast. There may have been bacon as well.
We were full but not overfull. Portion was right. Service was awesome. Food was great. Prices were a value.

OK, I now have egg on my face!
We were in Clayton and rode by the diner, it was open and my husband said «LET’S DO IT».
I would like to say … these 2 people running the place (didn’t get there names) are GREAT! The lady was the cook and she made an excellent Cajun Omelete. The crêpe-​like egg omelete was packed with sausage, a variety of peppers, and onions. My husand had the Chicken Fried Steak with biscuits and gravy. He liked the fact that it was PIPING hot through and through. We both wiped our plates clean.
Service by the man was like he knew you, and made you feel comfortable while happy to be there!
I find it odd for this little diner to be in the midst of Clayton, but sure hope they stay!

What’s up with me and diners lately? I’ve on some sort of diner kick, it seems! I just really really love breakfast food.
I met a friend here for a Sunday morning brunch. I can’t believe I’ve walked by this place so many times without stopping in!
Anyway, the diner itself is nice and cozy. No frills; just a counter and a few tables.
Our waitress was SO friendly. I had to do a double take and make sure we didn’t go to highschool together or something. She was just SO personable and sweet! Loved it.
I ordered half a belgian waffle and an order of bacon. My friend ordered the breakfast special, which came with 2 eggs, hash browns, sausage, and toast. He subbed french toast for the toast with no problem.
Our food came out super fast, and it was tasty. Simple comfort food at its finest. And it was cheap!
On our way out, our sweet waitress said goodbye, and told me that it was ‘nice to meet you!’. I couldn’t stop smiling, because who DOES that? So sweet.

I love the Clayton Diner; however I am not sure which I love more, the staff or the food. The staff have all have fun playful attitudes. I have seen regulars come in and be told that they werent allowed to have certain items off the menu. I have also seen regulars being ordered to fix their own drinks. Its all in fun.
Monday is my favorite day to eat at the Clayton Diner because of the soul food specials. I regularly get the fried pork steak, greens and mashed potatoes and corn bread. The greens are homemade and are delicious. I have also had the mac and cheese which is nothing to write home about.
Be sure to stop by for lunch if you are ever in the area. Its located across the street from the County Government building.

It’s a diner in every sense of the word. The tables, the cooking area, the staff and the menu. Excellent service. I ordered the original slinger which was very good and will go for another, but not soon. :)
If you like diners, the real thing, go here.

Small and Narnia-​esque, this little treasure serves up simple foods like burgers and breakfast (for lunch?!?) Its between the Bread Co and the World News store. Maybe 4 – 5 tables, and a small bar with stools. One grill and one server. Simple.
I ordered the pork steak, like you do, for lunch. I make snap decisions when I am bombarded with new stimuli, but this was a good choice. Super tasty, order it. It was covered in the best bbq (Sweet Baby Rays) and served hot over toast. The potato salad and baked beans also brought the flavor.
I plan on going back and getting a burger or chicken wings. Maybe an omelet?

If you’re in the mood for a small, greasy-​spoon, diner with a just a few tables and bolted-​down stools at the bar facing the grill and fryer, this is the place. (Note: this description is with the utmost affection). A perfect place for a Saturday or Sunday morning with the paper.
The GF was out of town this weekend, so I figured I’d stop in for a real artery-​clogger of a brunch, and I got exactly what I wanted. I sat at the bar and ordered the SOB: Stuff on a Biscuit. Open faced biscuits with sausage gravy, eggs and sausage patties. I added some Louisiana hotsauce and red pepper for good measure. AWESOME!
The three-​person staff was friendly and attentive and the other patrons (a father and son, a group of frat boys, an older couple and a professor-​type) all seemed very content. I noticed several of the plates around me had various mouthwatering chili-​covered creations which I’ll have to investigate soon.
I rolled out of there feeling very content and looking forward to coming back.