September 30, 2011
So it was my first night back at work and I may as well start whining about it. I had to go in at 10 :00 AM and now it’s closing in on 10:00 PM and I have to go back in early again tomorrow. Ugh. So I thought I’d take it easy and do a little bit of wandering. But wander to where? That is the question...and here’s the answer: The Waverly Diner. Jeremiah Moss recently ran a post about the renovation that’s been going on there, you can read that post here: Waverly Diner.
The renovations started last summer, I would think they’d be close to finishing by now. I thought we’d go, take a look and if it’s still closed we’ll grab a beer at the Washington Square Diner, another great old school diner that’s close by.
It's a nice night out, so I thought we'd just walk there, it's a straight shot down 6th Avenue.
Pumpkins in this store front window are a reminder that Halloween is on the way. Fuck, where did the summer go?
And here we are. Boy is this a sad sight. They stripped the neon sign off the front wall. I wonder if it's coming back.
This is how it looked last July.
The neon sign is still hanging, but the lights are out. I'm wondering if they're ever going to light up again.
The neon lights on the side of the building remain, but they too are unlit. This corner used to look so festive and now it's just dead.
I second that emotion.
How true. This is too depressing, let's go to the Washington Square Diner, hopefully they haven't turned it into a Sizzler.
Thankfully, it's still here, in all it's lit up glory. A classic, New York, open all night diner.
There's lots of comfortable booths to sit at in here.
But I thought I'd sit at the marble-topped counter in the back.
Wrapped up pastries line the edge of the counter.
And coffee and hot chocolate machines stand at attention behind it.
And the first beer of the evening is poured by this friendly gentleman behind the counter.
Some cakes are chilling in this refrigerated case.
I ordered a bagel and it looks like it's up and ready. Ding, ding, ding.
And Dyson serves it up with another beer.
A beer and a bagel, the breakfast of champions. Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.
The Washington Square Diner
Let’s hope they never renovate the Washington Square Diner. The place is a Greek diner, but that’s where the tragedy ends. Inside the walls are lined with spacious booths, covered in purplish/red vinyl. There’s a coffee counter to sit at in the back and single booths are lined up in the middle of the diner for those that just want to hunker down with a newspaper and a bottomless cup of coffee.
The menu is beyond huge. Here’s just a sampling of some of the entries: Lumberjack Belgian Waffles, served with two eggs, bacon, ham and sausage (take that IHOP!); Brisket of Beef open faced sandwich; Linguine With Clam Sauce; Southern Fried Chicken; fourteen varieties of omelettes and seventeen styles of burgers.
Washington Square Diner is open 24 hours, 365 days a year. And they have beer and wine. Stop by and support a great old-school New York diner.
Washington Square Diner
150 W 4th St. (Near 6th Avenue)
212-533-9306
Further reading: MAD, Daily News and facecrack.
Nothin' ever happened 'round my hometown,
And I ain't the kind to just hang around.
(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)
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Bonus Photos by Tom!
Fellow EV Grieve reader and contributer, Tom, sent in these photos of the Papaya Dog on 14th Street at night. Nice shots, Tom! Thanks for sending them in! Sorry, Al!
27 Comments
Reader Comments (27)
I love the good ol' hot chocolate machine, but it's no orange squeezer. I will for sure stop by the Washington Square Diner (and happily, I might add...you had me at southern fried chicken), but I do hope the Waverly pulls a Phoenix too.
P.S. The young Steve Earle looks like the lead singer of Crash Test Dummies. Mmm mmm mmm mmm.
ahhhhh neon signs and purplish red vinyl! .... remembering the way sweaty summer legs stick to the seat. We're down to one dinner here and its not a good one but they have a HUGE menu. I have to go here after the big hangovers - get my bad self a cheeseburger and a tall vanilla shake. I don't want you to think I lack culture but I don't think I ever had a beer in a dinner. Maybe I should try a wine at Cosi's first (see how that goes).
You seemed happier in Peoria ? .... you don't like your job ? ... be happy ! ... a lot of people have nothing and live in a shithole. You have a job - live in a prime spot in the most exciting city in the World ----- but you hardly ever seem happy ? Buck up little camper !
@Biff: I hope the Waverly comes back again too, time will tell. Crash Test Dummies? Ha ha ha! Forgot all about them!
@Green Monkey: You need to have a beer in a diner right now! Nothing better!
@GENE: It was just a bad night at work. My happiness in the Washington Square Diner didn't translate? Nobody's happy all the time, but I have my moments, maybe you just aren't seeing them. Thanks for the nice thoughts, though!
There used to be a bialy store on 14th St between Aves A & B and many times after a drunken night I'd stop in warm freshly baked bialy--6 for a buck, no wonder they went out of biz-- and they were delicious! You don't find many places like that anymore.
@MAD ..... it just seems that most days - you view your work glass as half empty instead of half full -- I'd cut my left (?) off to have your gifted life ....
That's a lonely bagel-no schmear? I like them with sliced tomato and avocado on top of the schmear. Yum!
Yeah that bagel needed cream cheese, sliced nova salmon, and an onion. Oh and I prefer to pour my own beer,,,,I appreciate the waiter doing his job but I usually tell them when its in the bottle.
yummmm bagels. It's been awhile since I've had a good bagel. Pickle surprise is nightmare inducing!
@Mykola Mick Demetiuk: Six for a buck? I wish that place was still in business!
@GENE: No, most nights I view my work glass as completely empty! But that's all going to change in a few months, stay tuned!
@Britta: I've always just liked a plain bagel with a little butter. I'm kind of a purist that way.
@Al: I've never liked dressed up bagels and I'm with you about the pouring of the beer, but I wanted it for the photo. A little action for the shot.
@kari: I found that Pickle Surprise by accident and had to put it up. I apologize in advance for the nightmares!
Hmmm...pickel surprize....wonder what Marty has in store for us today....think I'll take this hit of windowpane acid right now, and come back in thirty minutes when I'm peaking and check it out...hmmmm
(30 minutes later) hooookay, let's check out the surprise link...hum de dum de dum...WAAAAAAAGH!!! NO! HUHNNNNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!
Because i'm sort of a lazy old fuck........I don't do bagels much. Too much chewing. If they offered a pre-chewed one......i might go for it! Beer does not have to be chewed........one of many things that i like about beer! I like Steve Earle though! Just met him last august at the Pabst Theatre in Milwaukee. He was kind enough to sign my boots and take a photo with me! I like Steve because he says Fuck alot! Cheers Marty.....Glad you made it back home safe!
@Jaws: Don't bogart that acid!
@Professor Dungpie: Ha ha ha! I love the fact you don't eat bagels because it requires too much chewing! Very cool that you met Steve Earle! Fucking Cheers to you, Professor!
I was going to write about how I've had the Lumberjack Belgian Waffles, and really enjoyed it; and how I liked the Washington Square Diner in general, but then I watched "Pickle Surprise"- So fuck it.
Good to see you back in the 'hood'.
You're not going to 'Occupy Wall Street' after dark?
Radiohead is supposed to do a show there now.
(not that I'm a huge Radiohead fan outside of "Creep")
Thanks for the Steve Earle.
Long time fan and admirer of him.
(we shared some similar demons)
Some great words...
But I heard someone callin' my name one day
And I followed that voice down the lost highway
Everybody told me you can't get far
On thirty-seven dollars and a jap guitar
and...
Gotta keep rockin' why I still can
I gotta two pack habit and a motel tan
Great stuff.
HA I think that Miss Bunny is in Pickle suprise!..
met her once.
Sorry your place was still closed but washington whatever it is seems a good second choice:)
I have a fear of wrapped pastry.. It smells of wrap when you unwrap it..
Those Waverly lights better be coming back on - we've lost so much, but I don't think we can afford to lose that one. I'm gonna stay cautiously optimistic.
I prefer the regular tables at the diner, but when I'm really down I've found a sort of comfort in sitting at the counter - the buzz of activity on the other side + the smell of the coffee sometimes has a real calming effect. It is the perfect little 'life goes on' snapshot.
And I know where you're coming from re: crazy work hours, but when I'm tired and at my rope's end I just say to myself 'think about all the people these days that can't find work, and how they feel every day watching others going to and from their jobs'.
@csp: I know the feeling!
@"Boris:" I'm thinking about going to OWS tonight, if there's no blog tomorrow, it means I got pepper-sprayed by cops and I'm in jail. "Gotta keep rockin' why I still can, I gotta two pack habit and a motel tan." Those are my favorite lines from the song. Steve Earle is great and I'm glad he survived and didn't become a casualty.
@Gidget: I think that is Miss Bunny, now that you mention it! "It smells of wrap when you unwrap it." Ha ha ha! That cracks me up!
@JAZ: My big fear is that when the lights come back on (if they ever do) we won't be able to recognize it. I'm hoping for the best, but fearing the worst. And I too love the counter there. Time will tell!
Yes! I was in here a couple of weeks ago for breakfast - the place was full of cops. I get up so horribly early I've been rewarding myself by checking out 24 hour or early opening diners on the way to work. Don't think I'd been to this place for a long time. It's a bit ugly but comforting. Very friendly. Agree with JAZ about the comfort of sitting at the counter. The counter at the Stage on Second is the best maybe... you're right on top of everything. Hope the Waverly survives, neon signs et al.
@onemorefoldedsunset: That's great that you were recently at the Washington Square Diner, it's one of my favorites and you're right, they are very friendly in there. And I always prefer the counter when I'm by myself, nice to watch the action going on behind it. I'm hoping the best for the Waverly too, we'll see.
@Mykola-14th St. I used to go there all the time for bialys and bulkas as well.. I now go to Kossar's Bialys which also makes bulkas. Bulkas are the BEST!
A bagel and beer. I guess you were not very hungry. Have a good night. I'd chose one of the 17 varieties of omelettes and a toasted bagel.
@Melanie: I already had dinner, this was just a snack. I've had their omelettes and they are great!
I want a cheese danish and a cup of coffee or three right now!
@Melanie: Hope you got them at the Washington Square Diner!
I didn't think my heart could sink any lower today, but seeing the Waverly stripped of its neon and everything else...sigh, yeah, my heart dropped further into the abyss.