Laurel Diner - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Love this place. True diner food and friendly atmosphere. Think Luke’s on the TV show, Gilmore Girls.

We Are Looking For Good Pancakes and Drove 40 minutes. Pancakes Were Tastey and Fluffy ! Restaurant is Small But Like Always The Small Little Restaurant's Have The Best Food ! Staff and Food Were Excellent !

We have been going to Laurel Diner for many years. Prior to living in southbury we lived in Shelton and it was worth the drive. We love the food. It is fresh and very well made. The owners Pete and Stephanie are not only gracious but they are also classy. They say good things are worth the wait whether you are waiting to be seated or find a good park but trust me, it is worth the wait.

Little gem in CT, best breakfast hands down

This is a fantastic place to grab a quick bite to eat. The prices are what you’d expect for a smaller establishment but the food is definitely worth it. It was fun to get to know a few of the locals as I ate. My only complaint (which might not necessarily be their fault) is that it’s a pain to use their parking lot. But overall I had a good breakfast there and will definitely be returning in the future.

Quick stop off of I84 for breakfast, hubby had the breakfast special and added sausage gravy. Best he ever had! Need a diner like this in Gettysburg, PA. Service was fast and the server did a great job keeping our coffee cups full. We will stop again if ever back this way.

Hands-down, the best burgers in Connecticut, and locally sourced on top of that. I won't start a busy workday without fueling myself up here first.

The service was a little slow in this little hole-in-the-wall diner, but the food more than made up for it. OUTSTANDINGLY DELICIOUS!! If we ever find ourselves out this way again, we'll definitely stop in!

I had no idea I was walking into one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever had in my life. I recommend the “Pete’s special” or Pete’s favorite, (now unofficially known as Jake’s favorite) simply because it comes with the most amount of different food options at once. Please upgrade the French toast to cinnamon roll French toast. I’ll probably make it a point to come here again anytime I’m within 100 miles of this diner. Cash only, but I would’ve traded them my car for that meal if I had nothing else. I know I sound crazy and I don’t care. The food was just that good.

2nd visit and what can I say? Excellent experience each time. Corned beef hash is the best I have ever had. Food is spot on. Great service and diner atmosphere. Love this place.

As usual, meal was delicious. Wish there were healthier choices to make but they do sinful so well.... thank you

Love this place! Great family diner, food is delicious and service is friendly.

This is THE small diner experience!

The best around i love the oreo nutella pancakes

Great family run diner! Recommend hash and eggs!

Used to love this place, they absolutely ruined our Mother’s Day. We waited over an hour after placing order with two small children. They served two families that came in 10-20 minutes after us - that also complained about how long the wait was. We watched dozens of to go orders go out during this time. When we asked about the status of our order, they practically made it our fault. We never got our food and walked out after paying for our drinks. Absolutely no accountability, just “the cook only has two hands”.

So we went for Mother's Day breakfast and it was busy but we waited .The waitress Stephanie was excellent and always checking in with us .All of our breakfast plates were very good ,from the pancakes,eggs Benedict, to the hamburger breakfast it was great .

We need more Laurel Diners. Neighborhood gem with solid menu, exactly what you want when you want diner experience.

Best breakfast diner in New England, worth the stop if you are on Route 84 in Connecticut

A great secret of South ury, to e it right though as it gets busy

Very legit (and very tiny) classic American diner. The buttermilk pancakes… actually have buttermilk in them. Delicious. You’re going to have to wait at least 30 minutes for seating (and you’ll probably end up at the counter), but it’s absolutely worth the hassle.

Its ok. Not sure l would go back.

Homemade hash and pancakes are the best you'll find. Staff are friendly and attentive. Cash only so come prepared.

Favorite diner in Connecticut. Great breakfast. Highly recommend.

This place never disappoints! From a good standard breakfast or one of their very unique specials you will not be disappointed. You might have to wait a bit at peak times but, there is a reason it is popular

Wow. I have a new breakfast spot. Tried the Irish Benedict eggs as suggested, and while my heart is a bit less healthy, my taste buds are thrilled. So yummy!! Very reasonable prices. Coffee was nothing special, but I appreciated the prompt and free refills. UPDATE their lunch is the bomb. Reuben was something special

Hear ye hear ye!! If you are so unlucky as to not have ever gone to this place that, as I understand has been here since the 40,s consider yourself unlucky. Without a doubt the best breakfast I have ever had. P.S I am 58. From the wait staff to the cook they are a pleasure to be around. They don’t ask how you like the food because they don’t need to. AMAZING 🤩

Excellent greasy spoon. Cash only but worth it. Owners were very nice and fun to talk to.

About a mile off the Interstate but well worth it! Some of the best diner food I have ever had!! It's small so waiting for a table is possible.

A perfect tiny diner that serves fresh, delicious food. Always bringing out of town friends for a great breakfast or lunch. A must .

Great small diner. Friendly staff and the corned beef hash is delicious.

Food is fine, basically what an average person can cook at home... But play $12-15 for convenience. Skip the watered down coffee.

I just love unique little diners!

Let's just say this is the definition of a small town diner. Great food great people and great service. No matter what I say it's gonna be 5 stars. I ordered this burger called the beast and it was 1000% worth the cash for it. My girlfriend order their bbq chicken sandwich which she says it was amazing as well. As far as a cash only place goes this is THE place for breakfast/Lunch

I’ve been coming from PA weekly for work and it’s a mandatory stop for me! Great people and great food!

11/10/23: Decided to go to Laurel Diner as the reviews made it sound like we HAD to try it. Parking was available. Our party of 3 arrived at 11:30am for breakfast. They took our name at the cash register & we were told to wait outside as there’s absolutely no extra space inside this tiny little restaurant. We waited about 25 minutes to be called. We were seated at the table by the door, so I was constantly bothered by the in/out foot traffic. It smelled like pancakes and grease in the air and the menu options were written all over the available wall space. The waitress seemed like she was overworked/ tired, and didn’t have any pleasantries left to share. We ordered our morning drinks, 2 sets of short stacks (2 pancakes each), 2 orders of scrambled eggs, and one 3-pancake stack. Once the food arrived in a timely manner, the eggs disappeared before I even thought to get a photo (we were starving.) The pancakes were good. Not fluffy… more like flapjacks. For what we got, I feel the food is overpriced and not worth the long wait. The establishment is cash-only. We’ll probably try other restaurants next time we travel through.

Nice for a rainy Sunday breakfast. Very small and quaint place, tables fill up fast. Service is fairly quick too. I had a Spanish omelette (normally ham, peppers and onions, topped with salsa. But replaced ham for bacon) with hash browns. Everything was great, and good prices. Cash only!

What a great place. Not sure what some are whining about. Bottomless cup or coffee or tea. Real food freshly made. Staff goes above and beyond Please tell me what has not increased in price due to this horrid administration. Great place. Don’t let a bad egg change your mind.

Unbelievably overpriced for a diner. Even fries are extra with a burger. A very strange experience.

Very Good Breakfast made right in front of you! Service is somewhat lacking, you have to ask for more coffee. Small place like that with two waitresses not acceptable!

This is a lovely little diner, I’ve been going here for years, but on my last visit, they charged us $2.95 for a cup of coffee and $2.95 for a cup of tea. I don’t know what anyone else thinks is an appropriate price for diner coffee and tea but I find it very ugly price gouging and it’s soured me terribly on a place I’ve enjoyed for years. The owner replies it's a bottomless cup of coffee and I respect that. $2.95 is fair if you're planning to have 2 or more refills and sit and read the paper a while. Maybe offer different pricing. I'm happy to pay $1.50 for a solo cup or one refill.

This is our go to breakfast place, it’s the best! Sometimes there is a line, but so worth the wait. We love the omelettes! Service is fantastic. Can’t go wrong at the Laurel Diner.

The best diner in CT!!!! Gotta have their homemade corned beef hash. The service is impeccable!!!!

1st time here, even though I have lived in southbury for over 10 years, this place is always busy, and I finally got to try what everyone is always talking about ! The food was delicious. The staff is friendly and the place is super cute. Highly recommended.

Cute old fashioned diner. Very friendly and attentive staff. We over indulged but it was was worth it.

I loved the old time charm, good friendly & efficient service. Would mark higher if they made better coffee, sorry it was the weakest ever had. Life is too short for bad coffee but the eggs were great home fries I like them a little bit crispier but very tasty and the bacon was the best I've ever had at a diner

Best Diner ever!! The owners and staff are wonderful - you are always greeted by familiar friendly faces. Food is excellent every time, prepared fresh right in front of you by the owner. Nothing compares to Laurel Diner!

Stopped again on my way to Maine with my sister for lunch. Once again happy to see the friendly faces from my last visit here. Had oatmeal and blueberries, my sister had the Italian benedict with hot Italian sausage, peppers, and home fries.

A great find! Friendly people, delicious food and clean restrooms. It’s a small old fashioned diner. Cash only. Seriously! Stop in! You won’t be disappointed!!

Amazing place. Wish it was bigger. Would be nice to see them at a size like chips down the road. Would remind me more of cosmic omelet. That being said the food is always perfect and the service is quick and precise.

Didn't get to eat here due to how busy it was, I came with a large family on Sunday morning so it was a bit of a challenge. The food cooking on the griddle looked and smelled so good. The staff really tried to help us get seated but our situation had us go elsewhere. Thanks for trying and hope to visit in the future.

This is quite arguably the best diner in Connecticut. I don’t care how far you live from here it is worth a visit. I’ve been coming here for years and now my daughter has become a regular the bacon, egg and cheese with a side of home. Fries is out of this world delicious I even like to add some sausage to it, the Cinnabon’s all buttery and toasted on the grill are delicious and they have a wide array of different pancake varieties as well as different waffle options. Whether you are in the mood for breakfast or lunch this is your spot the staff could not be nicer and the food is so yummy. I love the fact that they support the local community with a local chefs gravy and other local additions to their traditional menu, seating is limited so get here early or prepare to wait for a little bit to get in although you can always order to go. whenever I order to go I can rarely make it home before I finish my sandwich. 10 out of 10 I highly recommend the spot. The owner Pete and his team are all super great. You will enjoy!

best breakfast place in ct hands down no question!

Best corned beef hash and home fries in the world

Very tasty breakfast. Cash only. Must try if you haven’t been.

I love this place! I work in Southbury every once and a while and this is my go to place.

I have been to lots of places The food was great and the people even betters It’s a small place that gives a big big punch Thank you for treating us with so much kindness and feeding us such great food We are for sure coming back

Best omelet I've ever had. I've been in the area three years now and ill say, i really dislike the "mix in" style...(always overcooked). So great to find a place that does it well. THANK YOU CHEF!

Great little diner. Had the eggs Benedict it was very good. Also best home fries I've had. You can watch the cook make all your food which was fun. Definitely would recommend and if I'm ever in the area will be back!

Great service Amazing food Amazing family owned business

Best pancakes and corned beef hash

Our first time here after reading about it for years. The French Toast was perfect as was the waffle. The eggs bacon and sausage patty were very good. The space was tight inside but we did not have to wait for service.

We are from Cincinnati Ohio visiting family in Woodbury. Worst experience we have had in a long time. My husband ordered a cheeseburger with onions. It was so soggy he couldn’t eat it. My food was fair . We came around noon- waited about 45 minutes and was able to get a counter seat. It was very loud and you couldn’t begin to have any conversation as it was too loud. We thought it would be much much better than this. It appeared this probably started out as a small family business. For those who live here and know the family might be why business appeared good. But coming from out of town. Again worst experience at a restaurant I’ve ever had!!! Won’t come here again!

So wonderfully local and genuine. The food is homemade and the real deal! The homemade hash is delectable!! Hats off to the chef!

We asked a nice older man we met at a gas station if he could recommend a good place to eat. Joe took us to this cute little diner. We just met him and he was the sweetest man. He was right. This diner was wonderful. The staff were very nice and the food was delicious. Joe told us he goes there at least once a week. Thank him for us again when you see him.

***CASH ONLY*** Excellent breakfast food! Consistently delicious and fast.

Food was okay. Sides were small portions. Being from out of state, I didn’t know it was a cash only business. So please beware and prepare.

Incredible! It was cooked perfectly, and the staff is amazing. I'm definitely coming back

Open since 1949, current owners for 25 years, the food is perfectly cooked, served quickly by friendly staff. Sunny atmosphere. And even Vermont maple syrup!

Best Diner in CT. The chef is a champ. Stands there all day making mornings better

Literally the BEST corned beef hash I've ever had.

Best breakfast place in the country. Their house made hash is amazing. That was my first time having corn beef hash, as I visited other diners across the New England area, I realized not all hash is yummy. Laurel’s has the best. The service is phenomenal. It’s straight diner vibe, cash only.

Poor service. Waited and waited to get a second cup of coffee, and had to ask on a Sunday morning, so busy. Food is not bad.

Service and food was great ! Can't wait to go back with my hubby.

Loved this place. Food was great. Staff was friendly. Nice and bright inside. New fav spot! Owner does all the cooking right in-front of you with. You know the food is going to be good when he can bench the entire building.

Very happening place with friendly, down to earth staff, who hustle to get you your food in a timely manner. The menu has an awesome variety of breakfast and lunch options with the main classics (i.e. egg platter) to much more uncommon items, such as Cap'n Crunch french toast. Not only do they give you a menu with a good amount of plate choices, but these plates are also written all over the walls, along with additional plates, which are not listed on the menu. It's definitely a lot to take in and decide on but you’ll enjoy the array available and will probably see dishes you don't commonly see in other breakfast/lunch establishments (the examples I mentioned previously). The food used is of higher quality ingredients and is presentes well, prepared by a super efficient cook, who I'll say bluntly knows his sh*t & posses some serious skills! The waitresses are great as well. They are attentive and quick. I even had one waitress chase outside after me to stop me from leaving without some leftovers I'd forgotten inside. Great place, great food, great people. I highly recommend.

It's always excellent when I visit this place, highly recommend

This place is just fun! Great service. Great food! Great atmosphere.

Best breakfast ever. Pancakes were amazing the best I ever had. Highly recommend this place Service was also excellent Just keep in mind cash only

I went to Laurel Diner today for the first time today and it was delicious! A bit of a wait, but the food was worth the wait! Definitely a must try!

Looking for a great diner with a small town feel? There may not be much room, but it’s always packed especially with locals. Do yourself a favor and take the detour off the highway. Experience the Laurel diner- can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Bring cash and your patience, there might be a short wait but it’s well worth it.

The only con about the Laurel Diner is that they are never open long enough. The few times I've been, it has been an experience. A simple diner setting that brings you back to a simpler time. The food is phenomenal! It is difficult to find a diner with incredible food quality and is impeccably consistent.

The food here is amazing and the people even better. I grew up in Southbury so I went here a few times as a kid. They really customize the food however. I haven't been here in a very long time, but I decided to come celebrate turning 25. Pete still recognized me and we talked a bit while he cooked. I came here with the intention of eating and reading in the corner. Instead I had a great meal at the counter with a true home-y atmosphere I can't get in my own town's diner.

By far best diner in CT.. Pete the owner a real good person...

Best breakfast in the surround area, you won't be disappointed!!'

I am so sorry!! My review was for another restaurant!! I don't know how that happened! Your restaurant was wonderful! My eggs were cooked to perfection! I hope this new review helps!

Bring cash! Food was great weekday or wait!

Wow , where to begin.. first off super tacky.. their menu is written on the walls so you give your whiplash as you twist you head to read it all. But let's talk about the real issue and what i believe is the core of their inflated reviews ... I was in a party of 4 and we all ordered something different which gave us a full range of their breakfast menu... IT WAS ALL BLAND.. ever item was horribly bland, I've tasted more flavor out of a bottle of water or a bowl of dry cereal than this whole meal had . Now my suspicion is because of location , it's southbury a town who's median age is 100+ and clearly has lost all sense of their taste buds ... I mean how do you not taste that your pancakes are charcoal flavored ??? Everything was burnt , pancakes, French toast , it was was charred on the griddle and flavored with charcoal. So when you eat just the top then it had no flavor ..they restaurant purely survives on local love and their bland existence. But it's not all bad ..the wait staff is very kind and lovely ..they were attentive , fast and ever so helpful .. the talent that their waitstaff has is wasted in this restaurant and their servers could prob earn 10x times more and a better restaurant so i wish them all luck .

Delicious! Corned beef hash was excellent, really good coffee, yummy cinnamon roll French toast and eggs Benedict. FYI no credit cards and the place is small so not a lot of tables. Parking is also very limited.

The food is delicious, great place!!! Everyone there is so nice.

The best diner in the NE. One thing people crave is consistancy. You have that hear. You have a great staff, a great and lively environment and whatever you order, will be the same as you remember it was the last time. Been coming here for a year now and cannot think of one bad thing to say about this amazing establishment

Overrated!! Nothing spectacular. Eggs supposed to be over medium but ended up well done. Update after owners response. Based on customer service should have been a one star. I was being nice giving it a 3 star. Cook eggs correct first time. Especially after waiting 15 minutes for breakfast. Was not waiting for them to be redone!!

I had a Delicious breakfast of eggs Benedict and the best blueberry pancakes ever! Friendly staff

Went today after review I read yesterday and very disappointed it was very small smelly and not clean. Never again

I just ate here for the first time and had the best breakfast of corned beef hash, eggs and home fries. It was delicious and eating at the counter is fun with Pete cooking and people all around. Go!

Food was good but poor service I’m still waiting for my second cup of coffee. I got the check but never my cup of coffee

Great food and hearty servings! Keep in mind they are cash only and parking can get competitive sometimes. If you plan on meeting someone, make sure to account for a few extra minutes to navigate parking.

Can't say enough good things! I've had eggs Benedict and home fries at close to 100+ places and Laurel Diner has literally the best for both of them. My wife swears by their corned beef hash as well (her go to breakfast food). Not only the food is great, so is the service. Every time we go there with our toddler and infant, someone(I presume a part owner) has come up to us before our meal and given us food for the kiddos (fruit or toast) while we wait, albeit not very long! I cant recommend Laurel Diner enough, just wish there was more seating!

We had the opportunity to go to Laurel Diner for the first time today. We were greeted by a lovely lady named Stephanie; she was very warm and friendly and made us feel very welcome. I had the hash, egg and homefries and it was the best homefries and hash I have ever eaten. My husband had an eggs omelet with homefries and he said the homefries were the best. I wish they had a larger place so we could bring the entire family. I also got a few beauty tips from Stephanie; thanks for the information! :)

Everything was made so well. Great vibe. Jalapeno omelette was incredible. Definitely go here!