Parthenon Diner – Old Saybrook

The atmosphere is that of a typical diner down to the décor. The staff was awesome and kind and the food was great! The grape leaves were flavorful and delicious. The chicken rice soup and grilled chicken wrap were perfect for lunch. The pesto chicken could use more pesto sauce however the chicken and vegetables were good. Fries were served on the side of the sandwiches. Overall, my experience was good and I will return in the future.

Parthenon Diner — Old Saybrook, CT — 2÷21÷2016
Despite the two star rating and some review sites, we quite enjoyed coming here. The service is always good and fast and the food is always decent. Today they had a slight mixup where they forgot to put the cheese and one of our omelettes but at the end of the day no biggie…
Give them a try, I think you’ll like them…

Typical diner fare with decent prices, open late and the ubiquitous showcase of decadent desserts. Servings are generous and the food is wholesome.

Maybe the worst restaurant I’ve ever been to. From the start to end, sickening. I didn’t even touch my food. Numerous health code violations. The bathrooms were DISGUSTING. The waiter had no idea what he was doing. Everyone’s order was wrong multiple times. Everything is frozen and heated in the microwave.
I mean, I don’t have enough time in the day to discuss how embarrassing this restaurant was. I question the health inspector and whether or not he/​she even examines the place.
Hair in the food, waiter’s hand all over the food, I almost threw up. Everyone at my table passed and didn’t touch anything.
NEVER GO HERE

Paid $ 10.50 for Streak-​umms… So disappointing we left without eating. At least we paid.
Don’t eat here.

We came here for lunch with a party of 12 and was very impressed. The food portions were large and good quality.
The Ruben was delicious, and the fries were thick cut. It’s my first time coming to this restaurant and I have no clues why the reviews are so bad, if I’m ever in the area again, I will be a repeat customer.

Disappointing. Not one bit of food was fresh. I had the grilled chicken club which was like rubber and the onion rings were frozen and soggy. My daughter had the open face turkey with mashed potatoes and vegetables; turkey — OK but smothered in so much jarred gravy who could really tell. vegetables were carrots and something else over cooked and the mashed potatoes were flavorless.
Final note: the bathroom was unclean and smelled bad.
I would never return to this restaurant.

Great food, extensive menu, service is consistently good. Portions are large, the best coffee in town since Pat’s closed. The Specials really are…3 course lunch for under $ 10. Menu prices go up on weekends though.
As far as some of the other reviews, I can’t comment on late night so maybe the 3^rd shift crew isn’t up to par. My family eats there often during «normal» hours and we often have to wait (though very briefly) for a table, I’ve never seen it empty.
Also, another reviewer complained about the lobster bisque. There is no lobster bisque on the menu, they call it seafood bisque, and yes it is the imitation chunk crabmeat. Probably the only mediocre item on the menu.
Only disappointment comes when you eat at another diner or casual restaurant after eating here. If you’re a PA/​NJ/​NY/​CT diner fan, this is as good as it gets.

The service was terrible they seated us with no menus. We had to ask for someone to get us coffee after watching 4 tables get served before us then 20 minutes later they asked if we wanted anything. Disappointed in the organization of this place. But once the food came it was delicious. They just need to watch for people who may not be getting served. Also we had to ask for coffee refill

The worst dining experience I have ever had. The «lobster» bisque did not have any lobster at all — but lots of gelatinous chunks of imitation lobster. Medium rare steak was way overcooked. My supermarket has better cole slaw at the deli. But the corker was the «service.» I had to clear our table myself so my husband could enjoy his coffee (excuse me, dishwater) without looking at all the dirty dishes. The waitress mixed up two orders and gave someone else part of my food. And don’t get the blueberry pie: tasteless berries embedded in dark blue glue between two layers of cardboard.

Got the app plate for two. It looked like someone’s left overs from the night before. One of the mozzarella sticks had hair coming out from both ends. Service was horrendous. I really don’t like to leave bad reviews, but I really wouldn’t want someone to waste their time or money.

When it first opened, it was great. I used to go there all the time.
One day, something happened – I believe it changed hands – and everything went to pot.
The food and service are awful.
It’s always empty now. Before, you could not even get in the door.
Not quite sure how they remain in business. My guess is, they won’t.
Too bad to see a good thing fall apart.

This is a 5 STAR DINER!
Atmosphere: Nostalgic diner décor
Food: Home made, hot and huge.
Service: Better than home
The Deal: Call home and tell them you’re
running late… eat without you. Then…
go get spoiled by your 2^nd family at the diner!

Not the best diner, but the best (and the only one that I’m aware of) in OS.
Went back for lunch a while ago, it was ok, so I guess constancy is a good thing in diners.

Quite possibly one of the worst dining experiences. Person who seated us just dropped menus on the table and walked away. Waiter brought wrong drinks. Food was absolutely awful. Service sucked. Never again will I eat there!

Save yourself and go somewhere else. The food is subpar at best. Burnt burgers from a dirty grill. Slow service, expect to wait 20 mins to put your order in. This was when the place was empty. Coffee was ok but no splenda unless asked for. I don’t recommend this place. Wont be coming back.

As far as New England diners go, this place is great. I’ve driven past it for a decade and always wanted to stop in and get a meal. I finally did, and am so happy with the result!
The fried chicken is greasy, crispy-​skinned perfection, the Reuben is meaty and heaped with sauerkraut, the French Fries are perfect, the diner coffee is good, the English Muffins are dripping with butter, the omelets are huge. Server was friendly and sweet.
They’ve also got sky-​high meringue pies and that strangely delicious Yankee staple, Grape Nut Pudding.
A lot of the negative reviews seem to be coming from people who ordered poorly. (Why in god’s name would you order a Cuban panini at a diner? Jesus.)

I have been eating there for years till this morning when waiting for a Togo order at the front bar happen to see cook smoking a cigarette while making breakfast… Disgusting!!! Will never return!!! I have never felt An obligation to leave a review until today…

Meh, this was pretty average diner food as these things go, and at the slighty-​inflated prices of the Route 1 strip just off a tourist area, but our service was very prompt and the food came out from the kitchen hot. They did forget the free dessert that was supposed to come with a kids’ meal, and the coffee was at the very bottom of the scale for thin crayon water (although it was, at least, hot thin crayon water).
Portions are enormous; we had a greek salad (lots of iceberg, nary a piece of romaine to be found), grilled cheese, hamburger, and a grilled mediterranean panini which we were surprised to see had breaded eggplant on it, not grilled. All of which was edible but nothing to write home about.
If this seems like I’m damning the place with faint praise, perhaps it is, but generally when one is willing to accept diner food it’s with a certain expectation of bland predictability, and that we had. The place was hopping and people around us were enjoying themselves, so what it lacked for in charm it made up for a bit in civic ambiance as well.

First off, the portions are huge. I stopped here with my mom while I was moving back to NH, and had enough that we both ate leftovers for dinner the next day. The food was solid. Not fabulous, but pretty much what we expected/​wanted.
Unlike a bunch of the reviews I see, we had no problems with service or getting the wrong foods. We got our food promptly, and were checked up on just frequently enough. The waiter was helpful, and warned my mom off from some meat thing because he said the kitchen wouldn’t cook it as rare as she wanted.