Mike's City Diner

Contributor

Citysearch

The Scene
This is as authentic as diners get, right down to the black-and-white checked tablecloths. Harried but friendly waitresses dart from table to table with trays of food, stepping around hungry patrons waiting for a seat. Piped-in Elvis Presley croons over the din of noisy customers. Regulars get the nod from behind the counter; coffee arrives without a word being uttered. A cross-section of South Enders and urbanites makes for prime people-watching, and no one seems to mind the cramped quarters.

The Food
The extensive menu does provide a sturdy selection of lunch offerings, but it bursts at the seams with delicious breakfast dishes, from Belgian waffles (made from scratch) to thick French toast, cooked to a golden-brown perfection. Oversized omelettes, accompanied with a heaping helping of delicious Red Bliss home fries, arrive hot, oozing with cheddar. Corned beef hash, made fresh daily, is well-worth the wait.