July 3, 2011
Live from New York, it’s Cheeseburger Saturday Night! Tonight’s host is the Waverly Diner and featuring the Ready for Prime Beef Player, Marty Wombacher. Ladies and Gentlemen all the way from the West Village in New York City, please welcome the Waverly Diner!
And it's off we go, the Waverly Diner is about 10 blocks from where I live. It's straight down 6th Avenue.
We're getting close, I can see the neon in the distance.
And here we are at the Waverly Diner.
There's booths on the left side of the diner, note the obssessive texter!
But I prefer the counter, Jose shows me a seat...
And Bobby hands me a menu. Before the meal arrives, let's take a little tour of the place.
Here's the view from my perch at the counter.
The infamous OJ machine that Biff mentioned a few posts ago.
There's slices of wrapped pound cake and brownies on display up at the counter.
My patented ebony and ivory salt and pepper shot.
Cookies!
"This store is monitored." Yikes, can you say, "Big Brother?" I knew that you could!
Here's a view from the back of the diner.
Here's a picture of the Waverly inside of the Waverly. I call this photo, "Waverly Squared."
And of course the walls are lined with signed black and white photos.
Three words come to mind as I gaze at this signed photo of Pete Turbiville and those words are: "Public Access Channel." (Actually I Googled him and he's a known voice-over guy.)
Okay, enough of the tour, let's eat! We'll start off with a cold beer, served up by Freddy.
And here comes the main course. Instead of the standard cheeseburger, I switched things up and got the Waverly Melt.
It comes with cole slaw and a pickle. Delicious!
Burp.
And this jackass is still texting away. Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.
My Meal
I had the Waverly Melt and it was delicious. Perfectly cooked and served piping hot with grilled onions and American cheese on white toast. For an appetizer I got the buffalo wings and they were deep fried and delicious and came with blue cheese and barbecue dipping sauces. I sat at the counter, but there’s red vinyl padded booths in the back and tables up front to dine at. The walls are dark wood and covered with old photos and images of New York and autographed black and white photos of actors and actresses of varying degrees of success. A classic old school diner.
The menu at the Waverly is very extensive and probably has the largest breakfast selection in New York. The fact that they offer a variety of 60 kinds of omelettes should be a good clue that if you’re a fan of breakfast food, you should definitely try the Waverly. In addition to the standard, Steak, Chop and Burger offerings that all diners serve, some of the entrees at the Waverly include: Pork Souvlaki served on a bed of rice; Meatloaf Parmigiana; Roumanian Steak and Two Stuffed Shrimp and Homemade Pastichio which is, baked macaroni with sauteed ground beef, topped with béchamel sauce. And if you’ve got a sweet tooth, there’s over 25 desserts to choose from including: Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake; Banana Cream Pie Apple Turnover and a Brownie Sundae.
Cheeseburger Rating
Three Wimpys—The Waverly Melt is great and highly recommended!
Waverly Diner
385 Sixth Ave. (@Waverly Place)
212-675-3181
Further reading: New York Magazine, Menu Pages, Village Voice and Edna Earl Dines Out.
You also might like: Johnny Rotten, Johnny Carson and Johnny Cash.
Four Other Waverly’s
Waverly
Waverly Hills
Waverly Convent of Jesus and Mary
Mr. Waverly
It's been a long, a long time coming,
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will.
ARCHIVES
(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)
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Bonus Photo From Lex!
My friend and sometimes MAD guest star Lex is vacationing in Switzerland and she sent in this photo dedicated to Tiki Bar Susie with a caption. Thanks Lex and have a great vacation!
Sami & Robert and yours truly at Kon Tiki Bar in Zurich (Swiss Bars rock - they were hopping at 10am!).
34 Comments
Reader Comments (34)
Looks like a very classy diner with a great selection. I want a brownie!
That sandwich looks good ! ... I want one ! ... I think I could drink about 47 beers after one of those :)
"Mmmmmm...Waverly Melt...grilled onions....glllaghllllglaaaghllllglaaaag..." - Homer Simpson.
"I know Leo G Caroll...was over a barrel...when Tarantula took too the hills..." - Lips - 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'.
@kari: It's one of the classic New York diners! And those brownies do look good.
@GENE: I know you could!
@Jaws: Great quotes!
The Waverly is a good one, for sure. It's really become an oasis of old-fashioned diner goodness in a swamp of chain-store/sex-in-the-city hell — the new personality free West Village. Definitely have my sights on a Waverly melt the next time I go.
The thing about Obsessive Texting Jackass is that the communique likely did not even begin when he was sitting in the Waverly; these are the ones who stroll around like nobody else is on the planet, therefore it is normal to text while walking down the street, bumping into everyone, and expecting you to get out of their way. They also love to get out of the train, and start texting halfway up the subway stairs (no big deal, not like anyone else is trying to go up the stairs).
Whatever happened to sitting and actually looking at real people in a diner? - smiling at an elderly couple sharing a sandwich, see a mother feeding her child, maybe share a little eye contact with a pretty young lady (or a cougar that might just rock your world with some well placed words).
If you are just going to sit there and text like a damn robot, do the rest of us a favor - just stay inside and call for delivery; some of us would like to pretend that there is still the chance for basic human interaction from time to time.
@Ned Sparks: The Waverly is definitely an oasis. Hopefully one that won't be going anywhere soon!
@JAZ: Perfectly said! People are really losing their social skills. The art of conversation is a dying thing. I like to sit at the counter in diners and talk to a total stranger and maybe find a perspective on a subject I never thought about or just share a few yuks with a stranger. Texting is something I refuse to do. And don't get me started on the texting Zombie walkers! Okay, I need a beer now!
Great diner!!I ate cheeseburgers on toast in New Haven, CT years ago. It too is a classic. Love the Waverly Diner. Cool place!Thanks for sharing Marty.
Classic diner! The Waverly Melt looked great, I'm going to have to get a melt tonight myself. Loved the Johnny Cash video! Never seen that one, I'm guessing it was done as a tribute after he died. I love all the links you put up every day! You're the internet Ed Sullivan! LOL!
@Melanie: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
@Barfly: Glad you enjoy the really big shew I put up every day! Thanks! And that is a Johnny Cash tribute video. I just found it last night and I really like it. I was going to use it as the main video, but the emedding was disabled, so I had to go with a link.
Wonderful diner. It looks like they have a real old world charm and standard in hospitality. The Waverly melt looks delicious. I'm so fucking hungry right now. It's 8am, I'm sitting at a beach beach trying to catch a view of some migrating whales and hungover.
Great photo of Pete Turbiville.....even greater resume!!
man what a great lookin' place to catch a bite to eat...man that menu is a knockout...it would probably take me half a day just to decide on what to order...that melt looked and sounded scrumptious ...and once again i have to say that i believe MAD eats better than me
“Although I cannot lay an egg, I am a very good judge of omelettes”
~ George Bernard Shaw
rr
OMG...just caught the new sonic commercial...not on you tube yet...will watch for it and post link for the anti-tv people out there...
rr
@Clacky: What the hell are you doing up at 8am? And it is a great diner, you need to check it out on your next trip here!
@rr: It's the best melt ever! And perfect quote as always, thanks my friend! And I can't wait to see that Sonic commercial, is it good or bad/good?
think CBM...
rr
The Waverly is a fine place. - that melt looks good. Love the Cash song - I almost posted it when we were expecting the end of the world (remember that??). Have a great 4th! Oh, & guess who I visited today ... in Brooklyn?
when I was a kid i used to be only able to eat cheeseburgers on toast.
i also hated anything on them...
unless they had no cheese.. then i had ketchup.
i was a small alien child..
and since i was adopted they let that slide.
i don't think i ate meat at restaurant till i was older than a toddler..i used to cry that mcdonalds had no grilled cheese.
and my parents friends were all afraid of having me for dinner.
can we go to the waverly Marty.. i want to poke out mr texters eyeballs.
its a pet peeve
Are you sure that guy wasn't playing Angry Birds? That game is super addictive!
The monitoring sign is a little creepy but it looks like a great diner.
Hey, I had lunch there with three friends yesterday!!! Only hours before you were there. Cool!
@rr: I have to see that commercial now!
@onemorefoldedsunset: I have no idea who you visited in Brooklyn. Let me know or it will drive me nuts today!
@Gidgie: I've never thought about it, but it is weird that McDonald's doesn't have grilled cheese! And yes, anytime you want to go there and poke that guy's eyeballs out, I'd be happy to accompany you!
@Britta: I have no idea what Angry Birds is, so maybe that was the case. I didn't get the monitoring sign either, but it's one of my favorite diners in NYC!
@Roger Paw: How funny! It is a small world sometimes! Maybe next time we'll be in there at the same time.
That article makes me hnngry for some New York food. See you soon. (Hopefully on time and with luggage). I like Sam Cooke, but Lou Rawls is the best.
Terry
@Terry: Looking forward to seeing you and everybody else this week! It's going to be a blast!
@Everybody: Today's post is going up a little late, I'm working on it right now. Happy 4th of July!
I hate to admit this but about a day after I got my iPhone I became someone who pulls it out pretty much any time I sit down. I try not to do it when I'm with people but if I'm alone-I'm socially anxious enough to avoid conversation with strangers most of the time. Also-Angry Birds is the simplest, most addictive game ever invented.
@Britta: That's why I'm not going to get an iPhone, I already waste so much time on the internet, I'm afraid of what would happen if I got into doing stuff on an iPhone.
See?! Totally kick-ass orange juice machine! I want one for my home, and I'm not even particularly fond of orange juice. Of course, that's just the sort of thing that would break one day after the warranty ran out and then it would just sit there in the kitchen, taking up counter space and collecting dust. Nice visit to the Waverly, though! Your sandwich looked delicious and I am here to tell you that the corned beef hash with eggs over easy is simply to die for. Just add salt. And chase it with a Coke.
@Biff: I don't know how I never noticed that OJ machine in there before, thanks for the heads up!
Oh no: http://ny.eater.com/archives/2011/07/classic_waverly_restaurant_gutted_potentially_expanding.php
@Lindsay: Horrible fucking news!
Noticed the closed Waverly yesterday. Broke my heart. i hope at least the waiters/staff come back. Love those guys. Sad just typing this...
Ah, NYC.
@Jay: Is it closed or just remodeling? I need to go by there and check it out.
@Marty: Yes, remodeling. Though in my experience that very often means bringing in different, younger staff to replace the old timers. I truly hope the owners respect the fact that the guys working there are part of what makes the place great.
PS The counter was also my fave place to sit when there on my own. Thanks for the photos!
@Jay: Thanks for letting me know. I hope they don't change the whole look of the place. And if they don't have the same staff, I'll stop going!
Based on the architect renderings in the Eater article it's definitely going to look different. Like something out of Wallpaper magazine ...