Highland Park Diner

We went on A Saturday around 1:30 and apparently they only offer breakfast. That was a disappointment right off the bat. Our server was somewhat attentive but it would have been nice if she came back to check on us sooner. She came back when we were almost done. My omelet was ok, nothing special to warrant the price. Probably won’t go back anytime soon.

Simple foods with great prices. Nice waitress who was attentive to details. Atmosphere was very comfy and relaxed — lots of regulars sitting around us. A great place for a quick breakfast.

Great little diner find! More eggs Benedict varieties than I ever seen on any menu. Character, good service and even better grub. A repeat in my future I’m thinking.

A small spot with great food. I got the French toast with nutella, bananas and strawberries and began craving it after the first time. I also got the lobster Benedict but I don’t think it lived up to what I had hoped. But I will be paying another visit

Last time we ate here was several years ago. Now, they take credit cards. It’s a small spot but they do breakfast in a big way. 2 of my kids ordered waffles so we had a bit of a wait since it seems they only have one waffle maker.
We ended up at the counter since all the tables were taken. But, it was fun to see the action.
They did have tables outside but those tables are right next to the parking lot and I don’t find car exhaust to be an appetizing addition to breakfast.
Service was good, food was good and the coffee was hot!

This place is pretty unassuming in the look and location but worth checking out. It looks like an old cable car that’s been converted into a restaurant with limited seating. I’ve come here three times and have yet to wait for a table but it’s entirely possible that you may have to wait for a table depending on when you come. I’ve been told this place can get cramped but have been fortunate enough to always miss this rush.
It’s always been clean and that is always a plus. I’ve never used their bathroom but typically if the bathroom is clean I feel confident that other areas are also clean. The menus did not have what can be a typical sticky feel or food splattered look to them and for that my hands are thankful.
I’ve ordered the grilled cheese and bacon sandwich a few times and had the Bacon Cheeseburger. Both were made to order and great choices. The staff members are very friendly and since the place is not so large you are never too far to wait on making an additional order. They do not serve alcohol here so if you are looking to have an adult beverage with your meal you may want to bring your own… I mean have one before coming here or check out another place. I’d recommend checking this place out if you are just looking for an unassuming place to grab a bite to eat in a relaxed environment. Salud.

Holy Moly the diner plate benedict is a must-​try for a Rochester plate lover. This place is tiny and I’ve almost always had to wait outside for a table for breakfast on the weekends. Worth the wait when the weather is decent. Give it a shot.

I ordered the Nutella stuffed French toast, it had bananas and strawberries on top and more Nutella. It was good but sweet. I could have done without the Nutella on top. My finance ordered the cinnamon French toast and sausage. It came with cinnamon glaze sauce which I did not like at all. His ordered was alright and he felt the same way about it.
The size difference between the small and large drinks was basically a kid size or adult size.
I asked the waitress for straws and she came with one even though there were 2 people.
I prefer their panini sandwiches. They have a large selection of teas and milkshakes.

I will never understand how they make Eggs Benedict so quickly but they do! I’m always surprised at how quickly my waitress returns with my breakfast. The eggs are perfectly poached every time and the home fries are awesome.
Some people might not like how limited the space can be in the diner but I think its worth it. Once you’re in the booth its fine! I’ve never had to wait to be seated, but I’ve only ever gone on weekdays or after the Sunday church rush. I’ve heard it can be busy at times, but that’s to be expected with the smaller dining area.
Overall, this place is a great Rochester staple for your breakfast needs. Eventually I’ll leave enough room at the end of my meal for one of those milkshakes. (There’s so many flavors!)

Love the Highland Park Diner, but I don’t come nearly as often as I should! Whenever I go, I’m quite contented with my food. The portions are very generous and the food is super tasty. I like to get some kind of eggs Benedict type dish, often that one they do with asparagus. Yum! I really go in hard for the old-​timey diner vibe. Some people might find it cheesy, but I really enjoy it.
I also love the milkshakes here! They are crazy delicious. I’d recommend coming early on the weekends if you’re going for breakfast because there is typically a big morning rush. Luckily, the service is relatively quick, so you never have to wait too too long for a table.

I have eaten at the Highland Diner numerous times over the past 15 years, for meals at all times of day, but have never written a review. To me, this place is a classic diner in a great location. It has changed ownership and management many times in the past decade and the food quality has been up and down.
My latest visit was this past Sunday for breakfast with friends. We went early, around 8:30 am, and were among the lucky ones who walked right in and sat right down without a wait. This place is almost always packed and with the small parking lot, it can be a challenge to get in. So if you have your heart set on eating here, either get here early or be prepared to wait!
For breakfast, I had the mushroom benedict — sautéed baby Portobello and white mushrooms with roasted red pepper on a muffin with poached eggs and hollandaise. It comes with a choice of either home fries or what they call ‘fresh fruit’. I went with the fresh fruit, though it was the typical pieces of melon that they serve everywhere. And yes, it might technically be ‘fresh’ as opposed to frozen or cooked, but it is not what I think of when I hear those words. Thus the rating here — I had the general feeling that all the food here is out of cans and bags and boxes, and very little is actually hand prepared. Overall, the benedict was OK. Hollandaise was plentiful on the plate, but not flavorful; eggs were cooked perfect; muffin was not the ‘standard’ Thomas’s English muffin — this one was thicker (probably a generic brand) and was not toasted — it was like they put it on the plate ‘raw’ and then topped it. I didn’t like it as a result.
I was with companions — one who had their homemade hash with eggs and home fries — he devoured it and loved it; the other had the Challah French toast — she ordered it with REAL maple syrup — which you can do, but it’s in their back fridge and is an extra charge. But she loved it and also cleared her plate.
Service was very good, the place is always clean and cheery, and overall a solid diner experience. But not the kind of amazing quality food (this is NOT local, organic, artisanal, etc — it is typical fast food/​diner food) that would make this a top brunch spot to return to over and over. More of a novelty for the actual structure and large menu with options for every palate.

I came here by myself for brunch on an impulse and am glad I did! Seating for one does not usually take long most places and I literally had no wait to be seated at the counter. Before I could count to ten, a server brought over water and a menu for me to start looking over.
Half the menu is devoted to eggs Benedict so it’s a good sign for brunch. I like to stick to the breakfast basics of brunch — eggs, bacon, and carbs. Pancakes won out over toast or waffles and I settled on the flapjack combo which includes the aforementioned foods.
Aside from the classic Americana diner that made me think of my favorite childhood movies, my server really made my experience worth while. She is an older woman who hails from Greece (the country) and was so attentive that I felt like I was one of her favorite regulars! Good customer service is not something I take for granted as it seems so lacking today.
The food: everything was good and very filling (plus, I didn’t have to wait FOREVER to get my food). Scrambled eggs were not dry and the bacon had just enough crunch. The pancakes were alright — I am very particular about pancakes and these just didn’t do much for me, but I wouldn’t tell you not to try them.
Overall, I would come here again because of the quick service and attentive staff. The food is good, but don’t forget it’s a diner, not the Hyatt.

We decided randomly that we wanted to go out and get breakfast for dinner tonight. After some brainstorming and speculation, we recalled liking a breakfast at Highland Diner once a few years back.
We pregamed by looking at their menu online to get an idea of what we wanted. Set, ready to roll! We planned on getting food to go at first, but apparently, this place hasn’t paid their phone bill.
Upon pulling into the parking lot, one of the waitresses was outside smoking and screaming into her phone. When we started walking inside, she gave us the most disgusting, evil, stank eyes. YUP, time to leave!
Great job losing money tonight Highland Diner.

My husband and I are pretty sure that HPD has the best milkshakes in the Roc. Amazing flavors like Oreo, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, various berries, syrups (almond is a personal fav!) and more. The milkshake portions are huge and fill 2 sundae glasses. I try to get my husband to split one with me, but sometimes he wants all the deliciousness to himself so I have to get my own!
We also love HPD for breakfast — I’m a fan of the Mexican Alarm Clock (2 eggs any style, refried beans, homemade salsa, sour cream & cheese over a folded tortilla w/​a side of fruit or home fries). My husband loves trying different omelettes (most recently the Irish w/​homemade corned beef hash) and their various Eggs Benedict preparations.
I also love their pumpkin bread french toast — made with real pumpkin bread w/​raisins & walnuts, fried on the grill like french toast, and served with homemade pumpkin butter.
Their lunches (salads & sandwiches) have left something to be desired for me, but they serve breakfast all day so that’s ok! =)
HPD knows the way to a girl’s heart.

My friend got super excited about this place before I got over to Rochester for the day. Unbeknownst to her, this place had been bookmarked for months. I bookmark places so far in the future that the fates line up and send me to these places. Nothing is coincidental.
Anywho, she drove me to this little diner, which is at the corner of a busy intersection in a little replica train. It was cute. I love the retro/​old fashioned sense behind it. Obviously one of my more unique places to go for breakfast. We entered the choo choo train and we were told to pick a table. Okay, great.
The best part about everything was how extensive the menu was! Yes! Establishments who treat breakfast with utmost importance make me smile. Breakfast is so great and important, just ask Ron Swanson. I was giddy reading the menu but knew that nothing would quite satisfy me than a skillet of fatty substances on my plate.
But the Highland Skillet just wasn’t that great, sorry Highland. My meal was drowning in gravy. I think this might be the norm, but it’s difficult to muck your way through it because it’s so thick. It’s also difficult to taste the home fries that were underneath it because the gravy just drowns everything out. I can’t even remember what was beneath the gravy. Just more gravy camouflaged as home fries? I don’t even know. Maybe Taste Bud Confusion (TBC) was the intent.
Besides TBC, the coffee was lackluster. I was disappointed that our waitress was inattentive to our cups. This was late morning, right when you need your triple dose of caffeine. Granted, it seemed like there was only one other waitress working every filled table, but I need my caffeine, dammit! (Says the caffeine addict) I’m not sure of the quality of the coffee. Seemed like a typical house brew, nothing too exciting.
My friend enjoyed her meal. I tried some of her fruit and it was quite fresh, so props to that. Unfortunately we were too full at the time to try any of the milkshakes, but the flavors here seemed really tempting to try! Perhaps next visit.
Overall, just okay. Maybe a second visit will cure my three star review and my TBC.

So this place is really cute and sortable! I love the trailer set up and everything it reminds me of an old school diner! The minute you walk in they are yelling at you how many which is a little abrasive on my opinion. The waiter didn’t check on us very much and was not very personable! Food was diner food it was decent!

Never my go to spot for brunch, but a worthy contender. My dad actually used to live around the corner so we’d go all the time for breakfast when I was young. While my trips are less frequent the memories are still there.
Decent amount of outdoor seating in the summer. Inside can get cramped but that’s most breakfast places downtown. Get there early or arrive after the rush (just past noon… 12:30).
Country skillet is enormous so bring your appetite. BLT is good on Texas toast. Curly fries are basic fries, but unseasoned so I add more salt. A huge variety of options here and if you’re into milkshakes, you gotta do it here. The servers expect it and won’t bite your head off for asking for one. Delicious and thick, I wish I could have dairy like that. Oh, how I remember it.
You go here if you want more food than you can handle after a night out. You’ll roll out of there or at least have leftovers in tow.

Had breakfast here today. The breakfast menu was great with a great variety and items you don’t normally see at diners.
I had the highland skillet. I will literally get 3 breakfasts out of it. Nice thin scrambled eggs on the bottom, then home fries, shredded cheese, and topped with sausage gravy. It came with 2 biscuits. The gravy could use (a lot) more sausage. Biscuits were good but dry.
Hubby had the Irish Benedict which was delish. Instead of Canadian bacon they used shredded corn beef and sautéed peppers and onions. Then the standard poached egg and hollandaise sauce on top. I could eat that everyday.
Kids had Mickey Mouse pancakes. Pretty standard kid breakfast.
This diner is obviously very small. We were there just after noon and there was a line out the door. Quick turnover so it’s not much of a wait.

I come here for milkshakes. When I haven’t had a shake for awhile, I get withdrawal symptoms. Also known as the «Milk Shakes».
Apparently 97% of the world dairy industry is owned by Sultans in the Middle East. Known as the «Milk Sheikhs.»
Anyway, on with the review.
What to get: Milkshakes.
What else is good: Not sure yet.
If this were the Island Pork Diner, then would it sell Jamaican Bacon? I have no idea. Actually I have no idea how good the food is here (though one of these days I’m coming for a sit-​down lunch, and I’ll find out). No, in fact, this review is specifically for the milkshakes, which are my favourites in Rochester.
If the owner was mean and abusive, but always while laughing, it would be the Smiling Pr*ck Diner. Luckily, it’s not. The chocolate shake is absolutely delicious. It’s creamy, it’s rich, it tastes exactly the way you’d want a chocolate shake to taste. It’s not too overpriced, under $ 5 when last I checked.
If the lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots gave you a lovebite in this place, would it be the Weiland Mark Diner? I’m not sure, that’s between you and Scotty. Sometimes I write my own «Interstate Love Song» while driving all the way from Buffy to Rochacha just for these shakes. The nutella shake is the other one I’ve had, and it tastes… well, like Nutella! But creamy and delicious and with an overload of nutella while still being fantastic. I might actually like it more than the chocolate one, and my travelling companion definitely does.
Come and try a shake and see how good they are. And ignore the crazy green-​haired guy in the doorway who is always on his cellphone. That’s just the «Dialling Punk», who have the Dialling Punk Diner its name.

The Highland Park Diner has become my go-​to diner in the city. Despite its apparent small size I’ve never waited more than a couple of minutes to be seated (and I appreciate the option of a counter for those times when I’m by myself).
The menu is almost overwhelmingly long. Their specialty seems to be «Benedicts», tens of variations of eggs Benedict. I tried the «Irish Benedict» last time I was here: the usual English muffins, poached eggs, and Hollandaise sauce, plus hash, peppers, and onions. It was a standard set of breakfast ingredients in a novel form and it was delicious. (It was also listed on the receipt as «Irish Benny», which I find hilarious.)
The other meals I’ve had here – all breakfast foods – have been good too. The hash browns are not as crispy as I like, but all of the other staples (eggs, sausages, blueberry pancakes) have been impeccable, as you’d expect from a diner. The French toast stuffed with fried apples and topped with whipped cream and mascarpone was too much, but that one’s on me. What was I expecting?
I’m sure I’ll be back, often. Maybe I’ll even come at a time of day when it’s socially acceptable to order one of their famous milkshakes…