I ™ New York Ham ‘N Eggery Diner

Enter a by-gone era and partake of a slice of Americana when you visit the New York Ham ‘N Eggery Diner. The “tin can” style diner was prevalent in the 1940s and ‘50s, and New York Ham ‘N Eggery Diner has been squeezed into its narrow, don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss-it location at Northern Boulevard and 49th Street in Jackson Heights since 1949. Patrons can sit in one of seven blue vinyl booths or at the bustling counter, where 15 more hungry people can be served. Whether at booth or counter, the delicious home style food is served fast, hot and delicious from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friendly owner Gus Kaloudis, who purchased the historic diner three and a half years ago, greets all his customers with a smile as he hustles behind the counter expediting literally hundreds of orders per day.

As its name suggests, the New York Ham ‘N Eggery Diner serves hearty breakfasts all day long. A breakfast special costs just $1.95 and includes two eggs, any style, toast and their famous, home fried potatoes, both crunchy and soft. Even the prices here hark back to a bygone era. The “Big Breakfast” will definitely keep you going till way past lunch with three eggs, bacon or ham or sausage, toast and coffee for just $4.95. Gus brought us a legendary “Wake Up” omelet made with three eggs and ham, bacon and chopped sausage mixed into the fold. This was a fluffy and flavorful omelet, expertly prepared, without any sign of grease at all. “The Booster” is an awesome pastrami omelet with toast and those fabulous home fries and coffee. The “Heart Attack,” one of their most popular breakfast sandwiches, piles two eggs, bacon, cheese and potatoes on a jumbo hero roll for an amazing $3.45. I dare you to eat lunch after that! On the flip side, “The Petite” is an egg white omelet served on toast with grapefruit juice for just $2.75.

Kaloudis also had us try a stack of their fluffy pancakes with real blueberries mixed in, topped with sweet, ripe banana slices and a cloud of whipped cream. We drizzled them with Aunt Jemima syrup and devoured them. Next time I’ll try the French toast with bacon. The coffee is top notch and the friendly wait staff will keep refilling your cup with no extra charge.

The New York Ham ‘N Eggery Diner offers a wide array of lunch items, including hot entrees that will amaze you. Though it was not quite noon, the chef insisted we try the hot lunch entrees. The seafood trio of fresh shrimp, scallops and clams is served over a generous mound of angel hair pasta, cooked perfectly, and topped with a large sprig of garden fresh basil. This dish and the rigatoni primavera, full of fresh vegetables and tender grilled chicken, are just two of the unexpected marvels on the menu here. Baked Boston scrod is served with potato and vegetables for just $6.95 and Yankee pot roast, slow cooked until tender, is just $6.25. Fresh fish, seafood, pork and beef appear in these specials and they are so generously portioned and reasonably priced, that many patrons simply order them to take home for the family supper. Every day the variety of specials changes. Lunch specials are faxed daily to the many businesses in the area. The recipients have to order quickly, though—when they’re gone, they’re gone.

In addition to the hot entrees, The New York Ham “N Eggery Diner makes incredible salads, such as the “Zorba The Greek”, a generous Greek salad, loaded with tomatoes, olives, onions and feta cheese, topped with sliced, grilled chicken. A traditional Cobb salad has turkey, tomatoes and hard cooked egg. Many of their hero sandwiches are named after local businesses whose staffs patronize them each day. The “Home Depot” hero piles hot roast beef and melted mozzarella on a jumbo roll ($5.45). The “Steinway Auto” features pastrami with melted Swiss, fried onions and hot peppers. The “Best Buy” layers turkey with bacon and Swiss.

The New York Ham ‘N Eggery Diner grills juicy burgers with all favorite toppings, starting at just $2.95. And what ‘40s style diner would be complete without a Blue Plate Special? You’ll find several here each day, served on the proverbial blue plate. Freshly roasted beef, turkey or chicken comes with potatoes and fresh vegetables for just $6.25. Comfort food such as meatloaf, chopped steak with onions or fish and chips will make you feel like home.

Wake up and go to The New York Ham “N Eggery Diner to try their delicious breakfasts, sandwiches, salads and hot lunch entrees. You’ll want to take some home for dinner. They also deliver all day for free. For a trip back to the bygone days of the late ‘40s and early ‘50s with prices to match the period décor and food that is out of this world, the New York Ham ‘N Eggery Diner is the place.