Ellen's Stardust Diner, New York City

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We were meant to meet a tour bus next to this diner. We arrived early and it was teeming with rain so we went inside for a coffee and bagel while we waited.The decor was fifties style. The wait staff were all very perky and cheerful. The music was bouncing. The menu looked extensive (wish we'd have had our breakfast here!) and while we sat, the next song came over the sound system, "Car Wash". But I thought, that doesn't sound like the original version.... Sure enough, I spotted someone walking around on the second level with a tambourine and singing the song himself! Wow!

We soon realized that the restaurant staff are all actors and singers and the restaurant is a 'singing' restaurant. They all took turns singing a song to the karaoke style backing music and they were all really talented. They do bring around a bucket for tips to help them all attend extra classes and auditions and they're worth it.

The diner is on Broadway at 51st street. It's got a level entry but the bathrooms are up on the second level. They are by no means cheap but still probably average for Times Square. You'll have a fun meal here.

Ellen's bills itself as "Home of the World Famous Singing Wait Staff". It's a very popular place especially pre or post theater - and you may have to wait for a table.

Ellen's is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu consists of the usual salads, sandwiches, burgers, and such. The burgers are good and the shakes - even at almost $8 - are really good - and filling. Most people seem to enjoy the singing - and sing along. But if you plan on having a conversation with your tablemates, forget it - the singing is loud as the wait staff moves all around the diner while singing!

It's kind of a novel place. At least the food was decent. A relative took me after a show and I in turn took another relative before a show. Twice is more than enough.

Monday - Thursday 7AM - 12M
Friday - Saturday 7AM - 1AM
Sunday 7AM - 11PM

We just got back from a few days in NYC, stayed in Times Square and accidentally walked into this restaurant and loved it.
It was Ellen's Stardust Diner at 1650 Broadway. Its a fifties style restaurant and serves good wholesome food like meatloaf, chicken pot pies, burgers and fries and of course great shakes. It is a bit crowded from time to time, but most all of the waiter and waitress are singing all the time, doing mostly Broadway tunes and of course Elvis. Prices are moderate but worth it just for the singing. The guys and gals are all Broadway hopefuls and are really very good. I know we enjoyed it.

Favorite Dish: The milk shakes

My sister's and I took my Mom to Ellen's stardust diner for her birthday (pre theater dinner). IT was SO FUN! we didn't have a reservation but it fills up fast so if they take one, you might want to make one. THe motif is very 50's style. The waitstaff are all very talented singers and they'll break into song the whole time, even while carrying trays! some of them will jump up between the booths adn dance and sing and if you're lucky, they'll lindy in the aisles for you. My Mom and all of us LOVED IT! hokey, yes, but so fun! very loud though so dont' go there if you want to have deep discussions. The food is your typical 50's diner type food but very yummy and not too expensive, especially for the show! :)

Favorite Dish: I had a tuna melt and my sister had a quesadilla. It was all very yummy!

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Ellen's Stardust diner is like a step back in time. It's styled after a 50's type diner, retro style. The waiters entertain you with singing to the patrons. Our service was fast and friendly.

My food was good, I had a ruben sandwich with fries. My husband had chicken fingers, but he didn't like them. They have a large menu, sandwiches, comfort food, pastas, and a large dessert menu.

It's a cute place, I would return.

Favorite Dish: Ruben sandwich with french fries.

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Ellen's Stardust Diner is a very busy and fabulous 50's style diner.

What makes it so fabulous is the singing waiting staff!!

We had a big breakfast here and enjoyed continual entertainment - each of the waiting staff took it in turns to sing to the diners - either solo or a duet - think tunes from the 50's/60's.

It was great fun - but not the place to go to for a quiet meal!!

Favorite Dish: We had eggs and bacon with home fries and plenty of coffee, all washed down with a song or two!!

This Diner is pretty cool even by New YorkCity standards. It is located on the most visited street in New York, Broadway.

It has simple American Fare, but its location is key. It has many amusing attributes: singing waiters and waitresses, a 50's Diner look and a train set that is mounted high in the double ceiling. If you get to sit on the 2nd floor you can look down to see the train moving around. I actually prefer to sit on the 1st floor.

Favorite Dish: The best things to order are of course, the quintessential 50's diner fare: cheesebuger with fries and a black & white milkshake. The milk shake is awesome!

Other favorites include: fried mozzarella, quesadillas, nachos, buffalo wings, and pratically any salad is good.

We were waking on Broadway looking for a place to eat, and came across this great place. All we could hear was 1950s upbeat rock music being played with live singers, and quite a few people on the street looking in the windows. On closer inspection, we realised it was the staff that were singing and not a band! This had to be the place to go!

When we were in and seated, the waitress asked for our drinks order and then skated off to the bar. A minute later, she was joining in with some of the staff with a tambourine, with the drinks obviously less of a priority. We must have been there for around two hours, joining in some of the songs and enjoying the talents of the performers/staff. Although the food and drinks may have taken a while to actually get to our table, the singing and dancing was a worthwhile distraction! Recommended for a fun bite to eat.

If you like to be entertained while you eat this is the place.. Enjoy great american food while the wait staff sings and dances on tables.They sometimes get the customers involved and it's an awsome time.

This restaurant is a lot of fun, especially after a busy day, walking all over Manhattan's theater district. My friend and I went there one night and had a blast! The food is great, and the waiters sing tunes from the 1940's through the 1980's. It takes you back in time, and it's fun for the whole family!

Favorite Dish: Well, since it's a diner, I had a cheeseburger, fries and a chocolate shake! It was great!