South Street Diner

The Scene – Outside, beneath the giant coffee cup that serves as the diner's landmark, customers people-watch while sipping coffee and frappes on wooden benches. Inside, kitschy elements dominate: Black cardboard music notes, plastic records and blow-up guitars dangle from the ceiling, while Marilyn Monroe shades cover the table lamps and James Dean poses in black and white overhead. Punkish, somber servers stand in stark contrast to the cheery 1950s theme. – – The Food – By diner standards, the menu is small, and leans toward the lower end. Anything served with butter…

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Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:: On most breakfast dishes, the kitchen slathers on the butter and other toppings: Ask for yours on the side.
When to Go:: Monday through Thursday the diner sponsors college nights, providing a 10 percent discount with student ID.
The Extras:: They also accept dining cards from Northeastern and other select colleges.

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User Reviews (26)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“Love The staff Love the food Love the location” “Food is good and cheap, atmosphere sub-par” “Very small diner and dark ambiance, but good food.” “The food is very good, and the waitresses are friendly, it is a page out of the past, which gives it it's own unique ambience.”
dessert	100.0% positive	“hot waitresses, giant omelets (try the broccoli-cheddar-cream cheese-potato combination), surprisingly good coffee.”
drinks	66.66999816894531% positive	“hot waitresses, giant omelets (try the broccoli-cheddar-cream cheese-potato combination), surprisingly good coffee.” “food is good and reasonable, But the customers are the thing to watch from tuxedos and euros to bums and goth, That staff is the same as the customers everything creates energy from the juke box to line to the coffee.” “The air was stale, ceilings were stained, staff was dull, coffee was bland, etc.”
food quality	83.33000183105469% positive	“With a lot of bbq sauce on the side i was one happy hungry customer!” “food is good and reasonable, But the customers are the thing to watch from tuxedos and euros to bums and goth, That staff is the same as the customers everything creates energy from the juke box to line to the coffee.” “has a sandwich and some fries which were decent.” “Absolutely the best steak tips in Boston!” “Good food, good service.” “The scrambled eggs were mushy, the corned beef hash was soggy (not crisp), and the home fries were tasteless.” “Diner food, but all night long :-) The pancakes are awesome.” “Definately the place for a great, cheap breakfast, or burger!” “Great breakfast food, flavors and taste of all-American diner food is right on.” “But more importantly the food is really good,big burgers great omelettes,even vegiterian dishes.” “fries crispy Milkshake and I was stuffed and ready to go to sleep best place late night” “The food is very good, and the waitresses are friendly, it is a page out of the past, which gives it it's own unique ambience.” “The pancakes were tasty, but were carelessly crumpled up on the plate.” “hot waitresses, giant omelets (try the broccoli-cheddar-cream cheese-potato combination), surprisingly good coffee.” “Love The staff Love the food Love the location” “Other food is okay, I've been here a few times and never had the horrible expiriences some of the reviewers have had but I've never had an amazing expirience here either.” “Very small diner and dark ambiance, but good food.” “The eggs were over medium, just as requested but the sausage was cold and the waitress had to be asked 3 times!”
overall	100.0% positive	“fries crispy Milkshake and I was stuffed and ready to go to sleep best place late night”
service	69.22999858856201% positive	“Prices were reasonable and people fairly friendly” “The service was awful anyway.” “Hey first of all the service was great thanks a lot to STEPHANIE!” “Good food, good service.” “Love The staff Love the food Love the location” “hot waitresses, giant omelets (try the broccoli-cheddar-cream cheese-potato combination), surprisingly good coffee.” “The air was stale, ceilings were stained, staff was dull, coffee was bland, etc.” “Greasy spoon, fast service, great all american diner.” “The eggs were over medium, just as requested but the sausage was cold and the waitress had to be asked 3 times!” “Best value for bfast and you can even meet great people waiting in line.” “The food is very good, and the waitresses are friendly, it is a page out of the past, which gives it it's own unique ambience.” “food is good and reasonable, But the customers are the thing to watch from tuxedos and euros to bums and goth, That staff is the same as the customers everything creates energy from the juke box to line to the coffee.” “This place had the worst service I have seen.”
value	100.0% positive	“Best value for bfast and you can even meet great people waiting in line.” “Food is good and cheap, atmosphere sub-par” “Definately the place for a great, cheap breakfast, or burger!”
wait time	100.0% positive	“Diner food, but all night long :-) The pancakes are awesome.”

05/01/10

Rounding up the tax on the bill?

by JAKZN at Citysearch

Had lunch here recently. Good food, good service...no complaints there. When the bill came the total for food/drink was $11.00. Tax was $.77. Total on the bill was $11.80. While I don't care about 3 cents, I do care that, when brought to the server's attention, I was informed that "oh, the machine automatically rounds up". Really? I'm not sure it's illegal, but it's certainly unethical. I'm sure I don't need to eat there again if I'm going to be cheated. I'm also pretty sure that extra 3 cents is not going to the Commonwealth or the City.

Pros: None
Cons: Isn't that illegal?

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08/17/08

Absolutely the best steak tips in Boston! The brocolli was steamed to perfection and the mash potatos we're butterless and smooth!! With a lot of bbq sauce on the side i was one happy hungry customer!

by Hungie at Citysearch

Hey first of all the service was great thanks a lot to STEPHANIE!! She was awesome!! I love the way they grill their steak tips it's really good. If you never ate their before its definitely my favorite spot to eat late nights! try the tips with any two sides and BBQ sauce and your golden.. Thanks a lot Stephanie I hope to still see you there and if your reading this I think your absolutely beautiful hands down!! Love the tattoo on your leg!

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07/06/08

energy that intices you

by saldoms at Citysearch

food is good and reasonable, But the customers are the thing to watch from tuxedos and euros to bums and goth, That staff is the same as the customers everything creates energy from the juke box to line to the coffee. This a reality tv show in real life. Had a Cheeseburger that was good. fries crispy Milkshake and I was stuffed and ready to go to sleep best place late night

Pros: fun
Cons: line

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04/12/08

for lack of ANOTHER choice...

by freewilly7 at Citysearch

too bad i wasn't intoxicated enough to not be able to tell the difference. went there only bcoz that's like the only place on the planet that's open at wee hours (sad thing is, we drove all the way into the city to find only this place open).

wasn't too satisfied w/the whole experience: from greasy table to lack of service to sloppy food... well, i guess there's always a trade-off.

Pros: late-night eating
Cons: only choice around

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10/27/07

Great late night/early morning breakfast.

by voiceofboston at Citysearch

I went to get breakfast at 3 a.m. after the club and it was really good diner style breakfast. Greasy spoon, fast service, great all american diner.

South Street Diner

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What People Are Saying About South Street Diner

Alison Bulman

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Editor's Tips

05/01/10

Rounding up the tax on the bill?

by JAKZN at Citysearch

08/17/08

Absolutely the best steak tips in Boston! The brocolli was steamed to perfection and the mash potatos we're butterless and smooth!! With a lot of bbq sauce on the side i was one happy hungry customer!

by Hungie at Citysearch

07/06/08

energy that intices you

by saldoms at Citysearch

04/12/08

for lack of ANOTHER choice...

by freewilly7 at Citysearch

10/27/07

Great late night/early morning breakfast.

by voiceofboston at Citysearch

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