The Great Western Diner

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• 0

  Like others have said: I really wanted to like this place.  I drove by it on Sunday and turned around to check it out.  Being the only customer in the place should have been a clue though.  I tried the biscuits with gravy, hash browns (ordered extra crispy with onions), bacon and coffee.  The coffee was good, the biscuits were not homemade, the gravy was just okay at best, the hash browns were just diced up potatoes that tasted sour.  They forgot my bacon and when I asked for it she went in the back and microwaved some for me right away.  The staff was very friendly and at least the food was not overpriced (less than $7 including tax).  I may stop back to check out the barbeque one evening though.

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  Posted on 06.04.12 Robbie R.

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• 0

  Undercooked omelets, frozen potatoes and servers that barely understand your order...avoid this place at all costs

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  Posted on 03.25.12 Greg N.

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  I wanted to like it, the staff is very friendly... Unfortunately the food is gross. Omelette with processed cheese product that never melted. Also, it was uncooked in the middle.

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  Posted on 03.25.12 Cortney H.

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  There are some mornings where I crave no-frills, greasy spoon diner food served in large potions.  There are not many mornings I feel this way (call-it twice a year) but I'm going to add The Great Western Diner to the list of diners that meet the requirements.
  
  Their menu is full of breakfast platters with the expected fare...eggs, assortment of breakfast meats, grits, biscuits with gravy, pancakes, and the like.  There was also a decent selection of lunch and dinner specials.
  
  I stopped of for breakfast with my brother-in-law, and we both went with eggs, bacon, breakfast potatoes,  biscuits with gravy, and grits.  The eggs were a little on the greasy side, but the bacon was prepared just the way I like them (crispy, just a tad under burnt).  The potatoes were fine...nothing memorable.  The biscuits had a fluffy top, but a hard bottom.  The gravy could have used a little more pepper, but I appreciated the healthy pieces of sausage.  The grits were basic, with a slice of american cheese melted on top.  For the price (I want to say around $6.50) the quality and portion was commensurate with the price.
  
  In short:
  
  4 stars for service (nothing over the top to give it a 5th)
  3 stars for quality of food
  2 stars because they only accept cash...
  
  If you're looking for a breakfast joint along 38th street, and the Golden Arches doesn't sound appetizing, then the Great Western Diner is a good (not great) alternative.

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  Posted on 02.12.12 Mike D.

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  I visited the Great Western Diner with a large group after Winterfest.  The menu offers many different options, mostly in the American diner vein.  I ordered a half-pound bacon cheeseburger and fries.  As is my wont, I cut the burger in half before eating it with the intention of taking the rest to go.  But the burger was so juicy and tasty I finished the whole thing.  I also ate all the fries (a rarity for me), which were deliciously seasoned (roasted garlic and red pepper flakes, maybe?).
  This restaurant will be very successful if it can capitalize on its proximity to the State Fairgrounds.  The owner, who has already made substantial improvements to the building, told us of his plans for outdoor seating with umbrellas and live music.  He's also working on accepting credit cards.

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  Posted on 01.30.12 Andrew K.

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  This place has a lot of potential.  The owners seem very nice and eager to please.  They serve breakfast all day, so I gave that a try.  Simple, but quality, French toast.  Some of the best breakfast potatoes in town; hearty chunks, crispy on the outside, but still tender inside.  Biscuits were a bit overdone/tough, but I bet it was just a bad batch; I'll definitely give them another try.  And the gravy was quite good, not just the usual bland paste.  The owner brought us out a sample of the chicken salad to try.  It was fantastic.  Chunks of pulled meat mixed with (roasted?) peppers; the perfect mix of spicy and creamy.  Can't wait to get back and try their pot pie or other daily specials.

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  Posted on 01.03.12 Dan C.

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  Just opened about 2.5 wks ago. Bright, clean & with a vintage western theme. Friendly service, nice portions. Biscuits were homemade & crispy on outside & fluffy inside. The gravy was delicious - not the thick white pasty kind but thinner, brown & very flavorful, almost smokey. Pancakes were light. Hash browns were actually diced seasoned potatoes that were crisp on the outside - yum!  They also have lunch & dinner specials, homemade pot pies & Krispy Kremes. They have mostly booths with a counter up front where you can also sit.  Cash only for now.

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  Posted on 12.12.11 Dawn Z.

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