Ideal Diner

Back on a stool at the Ideal Diner after an eight year hiatus. I gave this place five stars back then and I'm reaffirming that rating today. What a gem. As with all top reviews, one worries that the accolades will likely drive new customers to give it a try, contributing to a crush of diner regular's. Can't help that. Only 14 stools. No booths or tables. Be prepared. They get an A+ for friendliness, service, and customer attention. And you can ask for a 'half order' of the best crispy hash browns east of the Mississippi River. I paired mine with a cheeseburger/fried onions and I was simply in grill heaven. I live in a western suburb and you may say, geez, that's a long way to drive for a cheeseburger. Maybe, maybe not. Give it a try. Then you decide.

This place is amazing. My boyfriend and I came in with three other friends on a weekday. Parking is less than ideal... but was okay early on a weekday. There is only counter space and my friends told me don't sit until the woman working tells you to - she has a system.The menu is your traditional diner menu for breakfast but there are a few standout items. The pancakes... are just amazing, I don't know what's in there - which is shocking because they make everything right in front of you - but I couldn't stop eating them. They were so fluffy and delicious! The hashbrowns had the perfect amount of crisp and paired perfectly with the eggs and sausage. It was amazing how they could turn such a simple meal into something so dang good! Will definitely be back anytime I'm in the cities!

I'm apparently on a quest for my favorite pancakes in Minneapolis/St. Paul now. Ideal is an institution and gets a lot of press for their flapjacks and pastrami so we had to check it out. Classic, single counter diner with one short order cook rocking a big ol flat top and 6 orders at once. Highly recommend getting in early if you want a seat since they have a ton of regulars and it fills up fast. We got there at 6:30 and there were only a few stools left. The waiter was super friendly and prompt. The tiny space makes it convenient! You can also do takeout.The pancakes were the really buttery, lacy kind with the crispy edges from the burnt butter solids. Thin, but not dense or chewy. Crazy rich from the butter and putting some orange marmalade and a pinch of salt on top balanced it really well. They were soft but not fluffy by any means. It took 2 to fill me up vs the 1 from Our Kitchen. These were excellent for the style but, personally, I prefer the fluffy buttermilk ones. My wife got the corn beef hash and loved it. I'd definitely recommend them for anyone looking for an early breakfast spot.

THIS PLACE IS AMAZING!!!!! So if you are looking for a good old school diner and want to eat some great breakfast/brunch food then this is the place. The location is a bit small but worth the wait. The food has been delicious. I have tried the pancakes (which are huge btw), corned beef hash, omelets and more. All have been good. The best thing about this place is the feel of an old diner when you eat here. The place is a little run down but has a good worn look to it. This location unfortunately is about 45 mins away from where i live but i still try to make it out here a couple times a month.

This was a throwback to an old school diner of past long gone. It's small and colorful with a small long counter with the old school round stools and the grill right in front of you. My server was very friendly so when I saw chili on the breakfast menu I asked if they could make me a slinger and they didn't know what it was because it's a St Louis thing. I explain it's crispy hash browns topped with sausage patties, eggs, chili and cheeses which they made me with no problem. It was nice to have a slinger again and it hit the spot.

Great little diner right outside downtown. Stopped here with a coworker on our way to the courthouse and super glad we did. Plentiful free parking, portions are large and the food was fantastic. Waiter and server were both very pleasant and welcoming, will be coming back.

I lived in Northeast for 3 years and passed this place so many times without stopping in. I presumed it was good because it's a hole in the wall with only 14 seats. I moved about 20 minutes away and finally dined here. Needless to say, I missed out on 3 years of having arguably the best pancakes I've ever had in Minnesota. I could literally eat here everyday without getting tired of it. I normally order the Working Man which is 2 eggs, hash browns, choice of ham, bacon or sausage, toast and jelly but I sun a pancake for toast. Be prepared for a wait on the weekends and use the restroom prior because they don't have one. I will go out of my way to get me some Ideal Diner!

I've tried several "hole in the wall" diners around town, and this one just didn't quite measure up to some of my favorites as I expected it to do.For one, they don't optimize service. There are plenty of seats and space in the counter windows for people to eat their meals, but they have you wait and only serve you at the counter. Therefore, you're waiting an excessive amount of time to get service because there is only about 12-15 counter seats max, so don't go here with a group.The staff is all very nice and friendly and seem to enjoy their job, but it's just not worth it to wait in this cramp space.My food was ok, but nothing spectacular, and frankly, I found my pancakes a bit undercooked. Perhaps they are rushing because they are busy, but it just wasn't worth the time waiting. The presentation of the food and the quality of the food was just not there during my visit.

I've lived in Northeast my entire life and finally made it to Ideal this morning for breakfast. I'm so mad I've been missing out this entire time! It was honestly the best breakfast I've ever had. The portions are pretty big, so come hungry or split it with someone else. I split the Nordeast Omelette, some hashbrowns, and a pancake with my mom. Everything was SO TASTY.I came in with two others and we were lucky to grab a spot at the counter on a holiday Monday. The inside is quintessential diner. And there aren't very many counter spots. Our server let us know that weekends are incredibly busy with a 1-2 hour wait. Holiday weekdays are busier than normal. But if you wanna swing in and be seated right away, a regular ol' weekday is best.Our server was amazing! So kind and our waters and coffee were never close to empty. Food took awhile, but there was one person making literally everything. 1,000% worth the wait. I can't wait to come back!

This nostalgic, retro-style diner has been around since 1949 and is one of the only places in the area that serves breakfast all day.We happened upon this place midday on a Wednesday, and it was packed--for good reason.I had the hash browns, which were crispy and golden, and oh my gosh... the pancakes were the best I've ever had. They're kind of crepe-like: thin and slightly crispy at the edges. My colleague had eggs with biscuits and gravy, which were equally delicious.The atmosphere, friendly and attentive service, combined with delicious food, is a winning combination. Their pride shows in everything they do.If you're ever in the area, this place is a must-visit for a delicious meal. Open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.