The Diner On Clifton

How disappointing. Attempted to dine here this evening one last time before they close this location next week. Sat down in a booth with two of my friends. Waited fifteen minutes. Not a single staff member greeted us, brought us menus, water or anything. Two individuals who came in after us were being served as we left and one of the servers looked at us like she had no idea there were three people sitting at the table that emptied out. It’s a shame, because this used to be one of our favorite places. Now all the old employees are gone and it shows.

Had the Ruben for the first time… meat was fatty, sandwich not very flavorful. Also had the Santa Fe Wrap, always good. Also red skin potato salad… always good too.

Dear Diner on Clifton,
It’s been a good and long run and I thank you for your delicious diner grub, friendly service, and quaint yet fashionably hip atmosphere.
I applaud you for your ability to keep up with the rush of people that have been so desperately trying to find a seat in your last week.
Fun, vibrant, delicious, affordable, busy, fresh, tasty, patient, and always welcoming will be the words I associate with everyone’s favorite local hot-​spot.
Thank you for being you.
Love,
A self-​proclaimed foodie in mourning

As the duke here you will be missed thank you for so many years of breakfast, I will miss you

This is by far one of the top 3 diners in town. You pretty much can’t go wrong with anything you order for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The service is always top notch and fast. Also, they have healthy and regular options to appeal to anyone.
I always order the garden chowder, it’s a really great soup. Some of my favorites on the menu are the pesto pasta, baked chicken, both tuna sandwiches, any burger, pulled pork sandwich, and the hummus wrap, or if I’m trying to eat healthy I get the bbq chicken salad.
I definitely will be back to this place many times in the future.

My fiancé & I have been living in the area for about 10 months and pass by The Diner On Clifton frequently, we’ve both been wanting to go here for breakfast/​lunch since we spotted the place but never did give it a shot.
Today we finally decided to try it and it was awesome! From the service to the food quality & portions, everything was great.
We both ordered from «The All Day Breakfast» section, my fiancé ordered the Western Omelet while I ordered the Diner Breakfast w/​Ham. As soon as we saw the plates we were very impressed and pleased with the size of the portions.
The home fries came with both dishes & they were cooked to perfection with the right amount of seasoning & crisp.
The Omelet was huge, it looked to be at least a 3 – 4 egg omelet… Completely stuffed from end to end. My eggs which I got scrambled were perfect, I’m picky when it comes to eggs & they do theirs perfectly. The ham also was delicious.
I don’t have a bad thing to say about this diner, it exceeded all my expectations and then some. I’m obsessed with the homey feel and the friendly faces there, you couldn’t ask for better service. Out of all the restaurants we have been to here in Cleveland, The Diner on Clifton is already in my top 3 favorites! If you haven’t been, I suggest you go! You will not regret it!

A great diner. It is what it is. A small diner with sassy ladies working there. Take it for the gem it is! Food is diner style and good at being that. Although I’ve never tried desserts look amazing!

I don’t know why I try anywhere else for breakfast… Always the best and a good value!

I love this place. After living around the corner from it for two years, my opinion has definitely gotten my positive.
It can be hard to find parking, but they do have a small lot behind the building.
Whatever you do — YOU MUST TRY THE GARDEN VEGETABLE SOUP. I promise you will not be disappointed. It is amazing. It’s like creamy tomato meets your standard vegetable soup. The veggies and potatoes are always fall-​apart-​in-​your-​mouth delicious.
They offer breakfast all day and have a variety of other food. The deluxe turkey club is awesome (pair it with the soup!)
This place is a must try in Lakewood/​Cleveland.

I’d give The Diner on Clifton 6 stars if I could. This is the nicest diner I have ever eaten at! Luckily I only live a 5 minute walk from the diner and find myself having breakfast or lunch here a few times a month.
Traditional diner food but unique and subtly upscale. Everything I’ve ordered has been delicious! I’ve noticed that when I’ve ordered the same thing more than once, it has been consistently prepared the same way.
The waitresses are phenomenal, the food is delicious, (and served FAST if you’re in a rush to get back to work after your lunch hour) and the space is bright yet cozy.
Come in on Sunday and have a slice of one of their fantastic cakes in the display case — Or order my favorite — sourdough onion rings! Yum!

My 3 star rating is not based on the food. It is based on the sanitary conditions I noticed while dining here. As someone who used to work in food services some things just really shocked me. Truth be told, I am sure a lot of places have some faulty things they do but when they are visible to the whole restaurant and you see things happen in front of your eyes it’s a little disconcerting.
The food itself was actually very good. I tried the chicken salad which is served on a delicious toasted croissant. The service was fast and we were seated in a packed restaurant only after about 5 minutes of waiting. They have great turn around to cater to their small space.

Solid breakfast performance!
While visiting from out of town we let Unilocal guide our way here.
Our trust was not misplaced. The menu was standard fare with few surprises.
They EXCELL however in courteous and prompt service, and food that is well portioned and perfectly cooked. We had French toast on French bread, bacon (super savory), and corned beef hash.
The crowning gem to this place is the pricing. Definitely in the inexpensive category which belies the quality of the food.
Ample parking behind the building as well.

This is my new favorite breakfast spot in Lakewood. The place is always packed and you can see why. The food is excellent and the prices aren’t bad at all. I enjoyed the veggie omelette and was able to bring some leftovers home which I was excited about! There weren’t any tables open when we got there but we only had to wait about 5 minutes to get seated. Just an FYI, there isn’t anywhere to wait so you’re kind of crammed at the front door which is awkward when people are sitting at tables right by the door.
Our waitress was good but it seemed like she had too many tables to handle and didn’t come around to take our order for a long time. She was running around working her butt off. That was the only thing that was lacking. Otherwise, everything was great and everyone loved what they ordered. I can’t wait to come back again soon!

Pretty much my go to breakfast spot in Lakewood. Quick, easy, clean, basic, good diner food.
I’ve only had breakfast here but every time service was efficient and food was good and generous. I liked the regular breakfasts and omelettes. Had the Benedict once but it wasn’t that great.

Quite frankly we felt ignored by the servers for their regular customers. Case in point, a gentleman that walked in at the same time as we did was greeted by his first name, and shown to a seat. He then ordered, received his food, ate it, and left before our food even hit the table. The server finally started showing our table a little attention when the regulars cleared out, but once more came in, we were once again invisible.
The food itself was descent. Standard diner food served up with a healthy side of grease. The pancakes were really good and fluffy though.
I guess if we were a regular here I’d probably like the place more since those folks get preferential treatment, but then again, how does one become a regular if they won’t come back due to being ignored?

Delicious breakfast with fantastic service
Our waitress even knew directions to the nearest skatepark

I should mention right away that I had fish and chips and I would have it again. The fish was crisp and not overly greasy, the fries were equally well prepared. The tarter sauce was cool, creamy and tart. It also came with Cole slaw which I ignored because I was more interested in the main event.
So in keeping with my systematic review of fish n chips.
1. Fish wash white and flakes and decent portion. ⁵⁄₅
2. Batter. Golden and crispy, not too greasy. ⁵⁄₅.
3. Chips. Plentiful and not soggy. ⁵⁄₅.
4. Accompaniments. No lemon :(good tartar sauce. No malt vinegar :(2/​5
5 x factor. Nice server. Cute place. Coleslaw was not appetizing. ⁴⁄₅.
That averages to a 4.2 rounded down that’s a respectable 4.

The food and service provided by the morning shift and the evening shift are polar opposites. So opposite and so bad it’s almost comical. I much prefer the morning shift, especially on Sunday mornings. Morning shifts, while at times very busy, at least have the decency to provide you with kind, personable, and prompt service. With that, you get great food worth the wait and reasonably priced. More options to choose from.
On the other hand, evenings provide with with mediocre food with some of the worst carelessness and rudeness I have dealt with in terms of service. God forbid you should order dinner to go, and god forbid you could be served a beverage while you wait as calling in seems questionable due to rude and impatient tones on the phone. The server was noticeably bothered by a subtle, and patient presence while waiting for an order. Her cookie was more important for her dumb mouth rather than a polite request for a beverage not once, but three times, let alone any hope for a shred of polite decency. I HATE feeling like tipping should even be considered at all just because someone gave you something someone else worked their ass off for. If you don’t care and you don’t try you should get nothing.
So go in the mornings, it’s better that way in all regards.

During my first visit I probably would have given two or three stars. Nothing terrible happened but the service was pretty lackluster and the Mac and Cheese «dinner» was literally a giant bowl of decent (albeit standard) macaroni with creamy cheddar sauce.
Having been back several times since that initial visit I have found that the service during my initial visit must have been an exception and that I simply need to order other items. I do love mac and cheese, but here it is better ordered as a side. I also appreciate that The Diner on Clifton is open late and serves part of their breakfast menu all day — which is a big plus for a breakfast for lunch or dinner guy like me. I am also a fan of their shakes and will certainly continue visiting, especially if I have a need for a late night snack in the area.

This is a nice little diner in an area where young professionals may live? That is just a guess as I came with some friends who lived in the area previously.
We came for brunch and it was pretty busy. We were a party of four and had to wait at least 20 minutes for an available table. This is a small place with bar style seating for individual diners, booths that could seat four but was used by two sometimes, and table and chair seating. There was also one couple eating outside.
The menu items were pretty standard and everything we had was good. I had a salad and fries. A weird combination but that is what I felt like after running 26.2.

I’m at a 3.5 star rating for my first experience at The Diner On Clifton!
Like Unilocaler Russa W said, I feel the food is above average diner fare, but the service is really what shines here!
First, let mention:
— This was my first time here, therefore I’ve only had one dish
— We went during the Saturday brunch rush
When we walked it there was a wait for a booth or table, but luckily for us there were two counter seats open. We snagged those and were served piping hot diner coffee right away. Yum! I ordered the eggs Benedict and took in the sights and sounds of this bustling little diner while I waited. There isn’t much room to move around in there, but I watched the happiest faces of patrons as they ate their breakfast burritos, eggs over easy with toast, sammies and other delicious diner fare.
When our orders finally came up and I was super-​excited to see extra crispy home fries piled on my plate. All too often home fries are not prepared crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. But there were perfect. The only thing that would have made them even better was Tabasco – unfortunately they only have Sriracha and Frank’s. The eggs Benedict was prepared adequately, but not the best I’ve ever had. I immediately noticed the hollandaise wasn’t as rich as my homemade version. But the egg was poached to perfection and the English muffin had the most badass toasting – like it was brushed with butter and cooked on a griddle. Nothing is worse than an improperly cooked muffin when it comes to an egg benny. Not toasted enough makes it soggy, too toasted makes it hard as a rock. Speaking of butter, I’m not sure if I tasted this right, but it didn’t seem like real butter to me, but more like a butter-​flavored margarine. A small detail, I know, but I love real, salted butter when it comes to my breakfast dishes.
Service-​wise we were greeted with smiles, quick service and even though it was hectic, the staff handled the rush like a well oiled machine. The gal who served us was attentive but not overbearing. And, on a personal note, she was wearing a Darth Vader shirt and eating one of my favorite guilty pleasure snacks: saltines with American cheese! HA! I was a big fan.
Overall, I can’t wait to come back and try some more of their menu. Maybe for lunch or dinner next time!

Great breakfast and late night place. Not huge but it turns over quick as food is served fast.
Diner Burrito, and Diner eggs Benedict are my go to favorites. (The Burrito is a huge serving.) But there are lots of good breakfast choices. Sorry no Gluten free here.

This place is a gem. If you haven’t tried it already, what are you waiting for.
The place is small, yet comfortable. My SO and I were able to sit down at the bar almost right after walking in. We went for lunch, but we were still able to order breakfast which made it so hard to choose on what to eat. I sipped on the coffee while I waited. It was a bit strong, but good. My boyfriend chose the turkey club and I chose the Santa Fe wrap.
I was hooked before the food even arrived because the waitstaff was phenomenal. They were very personable and talked to you. They were very good at making you feel at home. I found it enjoyable watching the waitresses sing along to (the reasonably audible) music. They seemed to really enjoy their jobs.
Now on to the food, the wrap was amazing. It was a very generous size and it came with a huge portion of home made tortilla chips with salsa, guacamole, and a side of sour cream. These weren’t your run of the mill tortilla chips, they were fresh, hot, and crunchy. I’ve never had anything like them before and I can’t wait to get some more in the future. The Santa Fe wrap was nice and messy as it was loaded with chicken, black beans, cheddar, and salsa. It was nice and crunchy on the outside. The whole plate was so good that I ate the whole thing in one sitting. My boyfriend enjoyed his sandwich as well. I didn’t try the sandwich (it had bacon on it and I don’t eat pig products), but I did try the home made potato chips and they were also very delicious.
I can’t wait to come back to this place, there are so many things I would like to try.

One weekend when my parents came to visit, all the fancy brunch places were fully reserved and so they could not seat us. After turning to Unilocal,I found this diner and from the photos I wasn’t sure what to expect. My parents are pretty picky when it comes to food, and so I wanted them to enjoy their food so much more.
I finally parked and from the outside I was not impressed but upon entering, it’s a cute place. It was fairly busy and after waiting about 15 minutes, we were finally seated. Our waitress was a total sweetheart and she was so informative and helpful. She came by often to check on us and see if anyone needed anything. SERVICE = 10 STARS
The food: WOWZA! SO SO SO YUMMY! It came out hot and beyond delicious. We all ordered breakfast food and although this was a few months ago, I can still remember the flavor of their buttermilk pancakes, so buttery! The best part is my parents really enjoyed breakfast and left happy, and so did I.
Most of the customers looked like they were regulars. There are booths, regular tables, and bar style seating. Prices are great, food is great, service is great, what’s there not to love?
Go on in and try this place!

For years and years I’ve driven by this place and never gone in to eat, but at the suggestion of my girlfriend we stopped in for brunch. I was impressed with the décor and the friendly staff. The menu has enough options that even the pickiest of eaters should be able to find something to satisfy their tastes.
I went with the Western omelette. Loaded with generous portions of ham, peppers, and onions. The homefries were cooked to crispy perfection!
She had the eggs Benedict. It looked okay if that’s your thing. (I’m not a fan of runny eggs).
This is a great neighborhood diner, and they put out some fantastic food!