Coffee Shop

I had heard about this place from someone at my workplace and wanted to try it. We went for breakfast on a Friday. The place looks small from the front but the seating inside is actually spacious.
We ordered breakfast food only. The western omelet was okay, packed with onions and other veggies. My brother ordered scrambled eggs with his breakfast platter and it was not scrambled. They just poured the egg batter and kinda let it cook like an omelet. I had the pancakes. The pancakes were really good. They tasted like fluffy homemade pancakes and not some mushy cakey stuff you get at diners or big chain restaurants sometimes.
Everything was under seasoned though. I’m used to using less salt on my food so it wasn’t too bad for me, but if it was a little bland for me, I can’t imagine how bland it would taste for the average American person. They also brought syrup (after I had to request it) and the pancake syrup was not sugary. I had to pour a lot of syrup before I can taste any sugar. I wonder if they stick to low-​sodium, low-​glycemic stuff because of the older clientele at this hole-​in-​the-​wall.
Overall, there food wasn’t awful but the fact that it’s not cheaper or high quality compared to other diners in the area would make me hesitate about visiting here again.
Also, cash only. They have an ATM machine in the back.

’twas OK. Average breakfast food. Somewhat burnt potatoes. Cheery service. Wanted a diner, got a diner.

Awesome coffee shop. Food is inexpensive but consistently good. Staff is wonderful and always makes you feel welcome.

I am sitting at the restaurant right now and writing this review because I can’t eat what they just served me. I have been here twice. First time around the breakfast was ok. I got the corned beef hash with eggs. The corned beef was too oily. Service was horrible. My boyfriend liked the place so I decided to give it another try. We walked in and both the heavy set lady and old guy stared at us. NO GREETING! !! After a 3 second show down of just staring, I proceeded to say 2. The heavy set lady responds just pick wherever. RIDICULOUS! I got the pancakes and they were unbearable! I make better pancakes at home. It came with three pancakes and each one was burnt more than the other. Coffee was disgusting. 2 stars only because my boyfriend enjoyed his omellette. My local diner makes better food. Not coming back.

This place is called now Center Coffee. The menu is very limited, the breakfast is barely tolerable. Swiss cheese omelette was tasteless, the home fries also no taste and mushy. The pancakes are small and also tasteless. Even though the place is crowded on a Saturday morning we could not understand why. This place is in a strip mall with a bakery and dunkin donuts, Starbucks and pantanos please run to any of them for a better breakfast.

Very good coffee shop — 5 Stars in the context of this category. What I like about it is that it is simple and direct, a throw back to the old style breakfast luncheonette.
Great breakfast, good omelettes, pancakes…
Sandwiches and salads for lunch are solid.
The pricing is reasonable, offering excellent value for what you are getting. The seating is limited, with the coffee shop being very narrow and long (odd configuration) so it is not great for more than 4 to a party –it is kind of «bare bones» but, to me, that is one of it’s allures.

I love coming here for lunch even though I usually order an omelet (like breakfast). The staff is friendly and efficient. The owner runs the grill so you know you’re getting good food. And the food tastes great. I would have given the 5^th star if they accepted credit cards, but they don’t so make sure you bring some cash (no too much, it’s not expensive).

A good solid breakfast spot. Nothing as special as others have written but great prices (cash only). I would go back because it is so much better than the Plainview diner!

A horrible waste of time. I’m only giving this place one star because there is no option of giving none. One of the worst customer service experiences I have ever dealt with. When you walk into this establishment, you immediately sense the unfriendly environment. The waitress was rude and on top of it, when she messed up our order, she blamed it on us. I have worked in a restaurant prior, and that is not how customers should be treated. Additionally, when she brought out the right order, she placed the check on the table immediately after. Have you ever been to a restaurant that brings the check out with the meal? I strongly urge customers to stay away from this place and bring their business elsewhere.

Been eating here for years and will continue to do so. Friendly service, good food, reasonable prices. Usually eat breakfast but would try anything. The epitome of a local breakfast place.

Walking in you will feel like you just stepped back in time. The décor is definitely reminiscent of the 80s. I overheard some of the watress and cooks have been there for over several decades. If you’ve been coming there for a while they seem to know your name and are friendly. If this is your first time there, they don’t do small talk and you won’t get a smile out of them even if you tried.
The menu is a typical diner menu. The portions are good for one person. Food was good. Service was prompt and the food was out in a few minutes. I only had the breakfast stuff that was good. I have yet to try their signature grill cheese sandwich which I will be back to do so.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any good places to eat breakfast in Long Island, but this is a cute and slightly obscure spot.
Apparently has been around since 1965 or something like whoa!
The prices are reasonable, servers are sweet elderly ladies, and I mean it’s not spectacular food but it gets the job done. Ordered french toast with eggs, and I love the simple way they prepared the french toast here. The eggs were nothing special.
Good portion (not huge), coffee could have tasted better.
I would be back if I was too lazy to get breakfast somewhere else or meeting a friend for a quick catch-​up.

This place is an institution. It’s a modest, narrow luncheonette that hasn’t changed since I was a little kid, nor would I want it to.
Now, I’m sure if I looked at it critically, I could find a lot to nitpick about the place. Their menu is too big for everything to possibly be fresh, some items can be greasy, they only have old-​school diner staples and nothing more adventurous, etc.
But when I get their Grilled Cheese Special, I’m five years old again, and nothing else matters. Someone else on Unilocal said that it’s the best grilled cheese on Long Island, and while that seems like a bold claim, I can’t think of anywhere I’ve had better. Other food worth ordering includes pancakes, burgers and their tuna salad platter; I think my Dad would marry the tuna salad platter, were such a thing legal.
I’ve said in other reviews that one sign of a well-​run restaurant is when the same waiters and waitresses have been there for years; in the case of Center Coffee Shop, some of the waitresses have been there for DECADES. There’s something very comforting about coming to this little coffee shop and seeing the same women serving food that were there when you were a child.
So yeah; it’s just a hole-​in-​the-​wall coffee shop with next-​to-​nonexistent décor that isn’t going to wow any out-​of-​towners into raving about it. But I love this homey, comforting little eatery, and whenever someone badmouths it I have a strong urge to punch them in the face… well, actually, I’d rather just go back to the coffee shop and have another grilled cheese special. Grilled cheese is better than violence.
Note; It’s cash-​only, which normally annoys me, but they have an ATM on the premises.

Even as a kid I would walk here and get pancakes and a delicious egg cream for next to nothing! They’ve always given me the best of foods and service even when they’re stressed and busy the employees always make me feel like family ¹⁰⁄₁₀

Stop. this is my new go to spot to grow old eating breakfast before work with the love of my life.
Seriously. This is just the cutest old fashion little coffee shop, with a breakfast menu that is simple, but delicious. This is a no frills kind of joint, but for some reason made me feel right at home. Maybe it was the adorable older waitress working her buns off! She reminded me of my grandma!
Menu is very simple, but hot damn the food literally got to our table in less then 5 minutes after ordering it. If then, honestly now thinking about it I bet it came in under three minutes. The food was not oily or greasy at all, just fresh and a perfect way to start the day off. You really can not go wrong with that freshness, and those old fashion coffeehouse prices!
I am not sure, but I think the sausage is homemade. It is the best sausage I ever had, and when you bite into it you can see the meat is whiter, fresher, and just smells better then any place that obviously uses frozen sausage.
Ugh this is seriously the new tradition for my boyfriend and I. We plan to share many more breakfast’s together at this place.

Good food and quick friendly staff. I got a seat right away, menus almost immediately and the prices were really good. Pretty much what I used to expect from a neighborhood diner when I was growing up.

The breakfast here is awesome great flavor to simple dishes and the coffee is very flavorful for a diner. The staff is friendly and always remember you The prices are really cheap and the amount of food you get for the price is a really great ratio. The top lf the list for breakfast places

Pretty much the best food ever. All if it. Especially their omelettes,

This is an old fashioned luncheonette in the heart of one of the strip malls of Plainview or is it Syosset. Either way let me smack myself upside the head for venturing into this parking lot filled with the ladies of long island that do not know how to drive but do know how to talk on their cells.
OK enough… I am done with this parking lot
BUT before I go let me tell you about this right out of the 1960s little spot
yes its a cash only
long narrow place with a counter and booths for two in the front half back half has a few tables.
The waitress’ are no spring chickens and actually I like that.
Very sweet lady took our order told me eat the cream of potato soup it was good
yes it was creamy n salty and yes good
she called my kid «kid» well yes she is my kid… so ok
she told my kid to hurry up and order but it was in a sweet way so it was cute
basic good diner food I had a perfect grilled cheese nice hot fries and vanilla soda (a rare find) as in they made it fresh vanilla syrup in soda water.
reasonable prices but not cheap.
yes the food was hot fresh with a sassy sweetness waitress
will I come back? depends on my parking lot mood

First!
This place has been around for as long as I can remember. If you have ever been to the Plainview Shopping Center you have probably passed by this place and never batted an eye in its general direction. The blinds are typically shut after noon so it looks as if the place is closed but it actually stays open until 5−6pm M-​F. Be aware that this place is OLD SCHOOL. The servers, décor, griddle and the silverware haven’t changed since my first trip there in 1987 but in my eyes that just adds to its charm.
The food:
Chopped salads, omelettes, french toast, burgers, and the chicken soup are standouts as well as most of the items you will find on the typical NY diner style menu. Those are all well and good however the real reason to go here… the bomb diggity digs… the original gangster of this joint… is… The Grilled Cheese Special!
It’s on the menu every day and consists of a grilled cheese sandwich, fries and a drink for about $ 7. The grilled cheese is hands down the best ‘original’ grilled cheese sandwich on LI. Yep, I went there. Why is it the best? Is it the years and years of experience with the perfect quantity and quality of butter, cheese, and time on the griddle? Is it my childhood memories and nothing more? I wish I knew. All I can say is that I am a 30 year old dude and I have no problem ordering the same meal I had when I was 5 (I still put fries in the actual sandwich too :-D).
The service:
The staff is not necessarily friendly but they take any special orders or substitutions you might have with ease. Let’s just say it’s a ‘picky’ area and they’ve gotten used to the requests over the years. «Egg whites with lettuce on and dressing on the side with no oil and the eggs well done etc. etc.» Done deal. They will warm up and become like family after you make a couple dozen appearances so don’t be scared away if you get a cold vibe after your first visit. The place is pretty tight so if you go during the lunch rush or a weekend morning you will probably find yourself waiting for a bit. You wait in the back and then seat yourself so I suggest saving the trouble and coming during the non-​peak hours.
Seriously, go find this gem, test out this grilled cheese and tell me it’s not the best. Yums
Tip: No CC but there is an ATM in the back.