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A cloud-covered weekend morning took us to Easton’s west side and Palmer Township’s City Diner for breakfast. To area natives, 
the City Diner is more than an old standby – it’s a landmark and, to some, almost a home away from home. According to the Lehigh Valley Metromix, the diner, which opened in the late 1950′s, is among the oldest diners in the Easton area. Owner “Nick Giacoumopoulos took over in 1980,” the site says, and their chef has been there for over twenty-five years. Like a good cheddar, it appears to have aged well.
The front and side parking lots were almost full when we arrived just after ten o’clock. We found a space near the back. Inside, the restaurant staff hustled – taking orders, serving food, re-filling coffee, clearing tables. I asked if a booth might be available and we were quickly shown to the lone empty one along the back wall of the front section. I noted that tables and booths were spaced closely, but not uncomfortably so. A pleasant waitress delivered our requested water, a cup of coffee and a cup of tea.
An easel blackboard in the entryway had listed, among other items: raisin French toast and a broccoli cheese omelet – two of my favorites. 
Still, I browsed through the menu. It contained the usual diner fare. Not sure why but I chose simple bacon and eggs, as did M.
While we waited, we sipped our hot beverages and browsed the morning paper. We were especially drawn in by Joseph Owens’ morning blog. As we read, voices around us hummed. I heard the owner/manager deliver a fresh plate to another customer; M. said later that he seemed to be actively involved, keeping a watchful eye.
Our food arrived. Except for the preparation of the eggs, we’d ordered basically the same plates
– eggs, bacon, homefries. Our bacon was crispy, as requested, with a nice salty flavor. My eggs were well scrambled, moist, and delicious! M.’s poached eggs were fine, although close to being overcooked. Still, he said he recognizes restaurants’ concerns over the egg police and problems that arise from undercooked eggs. Our homefries were crispy, as requested; flavor was diner average. Toast was perfect, and still hot when delivered.
Our waitress provided friendly, efficient service. For a wholesome diner breakfast, I’d recommend a visit.
The total bill for two orders of eggs, bacon (3 pieces each), homefries, wheat toast, one coffee and one tea, came to just under $12 (plus tip). Reasonable in today’s market.
The City Diner is located at 1061 S. 25th St., Easton, PA (Palmer Township) – at the corner of 25th St. and Freemansburg Road. 610-258-5526. They are open Monday through Saturday 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sara
Saturday morning shopping took my husband and me to Easton. On our way, we
decided to stop for breakfast at the Tic Toc Family Restaurant, located near the intersection of Highway 22 and 25th Street. It had been a while since we’d eaten at the Tic Toc, long before Pennsylvania’s restaurant smoking ban went into effect.
We arrived soon after 9:30 AM and were surprised to see that the parking lot was only about a quarter-filled. Unusual for a Saturday morning. Either the rainy weather or the economy seemed to be keeping people away.
Inside, the manager offered us a choice of booths in the now smoke-free restaurant. We chose one near the front window, looking out onto the damp 
and dreary day. But the day brightened some when our cordial waitress set two cups of steaming coffee in front of us then took our order. The Tic Toc’s breakfast menu is a typical diner menu, and includes an extensive assortment of omelettes and other egg offerings, French Toast, waffles, and side dishes. The Belgian Waffles caught my eye today, while my husband ordered steak and eggs.
As we waited for our food, two silver-haired ladies and their middle-aged sons and daughters were seated nearby. What a wonderful sight, seeing them talking, laughing, and eating together. There is something special about taking elderly parents out for breakfast, both in their enjoyment and your own.
Our food soon arrived. My husband’s steak was medium rare, as he’d requested. His home fries and toast were nicely browned, but he said the potatoes tasted of onions and his eggs were small. My Belgian Waffle was warm and tasty. The bacon, however, was greasy and overly chewy. Service was good. Although our waitress was busy with the large family and other new customers, she kept our coffee cups filled.
Our total bill came to just under $18 (plus tip) for steak, eggs, home fries, toast, a Belgian Waffle and side order of bacon, and two cups of coffee. The food ranged from fair to good. Our waitress was both pleasant and attentive.
The Tic Toc Family Restaurant is located at 2510 Northampton Street in Easton, PA. They are open 24 hours.
Sara
The Golden View Diner seemed the perfect name for a diner this morning. As we drove through the countryside, nature blazed with vibrant fall colors – greens, reds, oranges, rich browns, and brilliant golds. The sky was clear and the temperature comfortable, a cool 63 degrees with whispers of a soft breeze. A jacket was nice, but not necessary. Not yet thinking of winter’s cold fury, we basked in the beauty of a Pennsylvania autumn.
It had been a while since we’d last visited the Golden View. The diner sits a mile or so north of Highway 22, almost at the intersection Highway 512 and Hanoverville Road. Since our last visit a large CVS Pharmacy and a Turkey Hill Minit Market had been constructed just north of the restaurant. They’re not yet open, but soon will be. The fields and open spaces of the Lehigh Valley are changing, filling in. A few more conveniences, a little less natural beauty.
On this morning’s visit to the Golden View Diner, my husband and I were greeted by the hostess and shown to a booth in the greenhouse section, a sunny room surrounded by glass. Our smiling waitress soon brought iced water and strong, black coffee. The breakfast menu had much to offer, including some interesting seafood selections featuring crab. I almost ordered an asparagus and cheese omelet, but decided instead on one of my favorites – Raisin French Toast.
The restaurant was busy, not quite full but the waitresses and the rest of the staff were bustling. As we waited for our food, we talked and scanned sections of the newspaper, 
including some political cartoons. A few made me wince. Between the economy and the elections, it seems there’s not much cheerful news these days, although there are always a few rewarding stories. And suddenly our food was there.
I’d ordered a short stack of Raisin French Toast and a side of bacon. Delicious! He ordered poached eggs, home fries, bacon and toast. After a minute or so, he saw that his toast was missing. As soon as we caught our waitress, she rushed into the kitchen and brought out two slices of hot whole wheat toast. Overall our waitress was attentive and cheerful, refilling our coffee as often as wanted. A satisfying, wholesome breakfast with good service in a bright and friendly setting. What more can one ask?
Our bill came to just under $11 (plus tip) for a short stack of Raisin French Toast with bacon, and two eggs, home fries, bacon, and toast, and two black coffees. Reasonable.
The Golden View Diner & Family Restaurant is located at 5090 Bath Pike (Highway 512) in Bethlehem, PA. Stop by for a tasty meal, and let me know how you like it.
Sara
The Valley View Diner faces Highway 191, between Nazareth and Bethlehem. In a month or two, as we enter into winter, nearby farm fields will 
begin to fill with majestic snow geese. Not cold enough yet. This morning the temperature was in the low 60′s, the sky a breath-taking September blue. A slight breeze swept through the air. Perfect going-out-to-eat weather.
My son was my breakfast companion on today’s outing. When we arrived shortly after eleven the restaurant was a little over half-full. The Valley View is a popular diner that appears to do a steady business, morning and night.
On entering we were promptly shown to a booth of our choosing next to a front window. The diner’s traditional decor with classic mirrors made it feel airy and welcoming. A small vase of silk daisies provided an added homey touch to the soft turquoise and gray booth.
Our drinks were delivered quickly – coffee and water for me, a glass of Sprite for my son. A smiling waitress took our orders. The Valley View’s menu featured a broad offering, including a good variety of omelettes and pancake choices. The chocolate chip pancakes sounded delicious but I resisted my sweet tooth and instead asked for a bacon, tomato, and cheddar omelette. He ordered scrambled eggs, smoked sausage, and rye toast.
While waiting, we began catching up. Life changes when one’s child becomes an adult and moves away. The time spent together seems even more precious. We talked about our jobs and discussed other projects we’re each working on. I was warmed to hear about the desk he’s set up for his computer, using an old piece of furniture long in the family.
Suddenly our friendly waitress was delivering our meals on warm white plates. My omelette was delectable with small chunks of fresh tomato, tasty bacon, and cheddar cheese. It was moist and filled with flavor. As we requested, the homefries for both of us were browned and crispy. My son’s smoked sausage was split and grilled. He enjoyed it and the scrambled eggs. Servings were substantial, more than we could quite finish. Our pleasant waitress gave us terrific service.
The bill for our breakfast – my omelette, home fries, toast, and coffee; his eggs, smoked sausage, home fries, toast and soft drink, totaled a little over $14 (plus tip). Food, service, and atmosphere were all excellent and made our morning’s visit an even more enjoyable one.
The Valley View Diner is located on 570 Nazareth Pike (Highway 191) in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. In addition to a great breakfast menu, they also offer interesting lunch and dinner choices. I encourage a visit.
Sara
The Nazareth Diner is an institution in the Nazareth Borough. We’ve seldom driven by it when the large parking lot wasn’t at least half full; more often it’s packed. It’s a popular gathering spot for old and young, families and singles. The Diner is where we first ate after our move here (years ago) and is a dependable regular on our list of weekend breakfast sites.
When we arrived shortly after 9 o’clock this morning, the sky was already gray and heavy in anticipation of Hanna’s coming rain. On entering, we weren’t asked whether we wanted smoking or non-smoking. The restaurant went smoke-free a few months ago, in advance of the new Pennsylvania smoking ban that will take effect September 11, 2008.
We were seated in the main dining room, mid-way along the back wall. The room was crowded with only a few empty tables. Although the sky outside was darkening, inside was cheerful and bright with the light from the many chandeliers. Waitresses and busboys bustled efficiently around the room – taking and delivering orders, clearing tables. Soon a pleasant young waitress set glasses of iced water, two cups of coffee, and a carafe for refills in front of us then took our order.
As we waited for our food, my husband and I sipped our coffee and skimmed sections of The Express-Times and The Morning Call. We discussed a few of the articles. A sad story on mortgages and the nationwide foreclosures caught our eyes. Too much money easily available, too many willing to loan it out. Many excuses, few reasons. A gloomy topic for a gloomy day. We moved on.
Within minutes, our kindly waitress was setting our food in front of us – 
eggs, bacon, homefries and whole wheat toast for him, French Toast and bacon for me. As always our food arrived hot and filled with flavor. It’s strange how such a basic food as French Toast, bread dipped in egg batter, can so vary between restaurants yet still be so good. The Diner’s version is on thick bread, lightly dipped and grilled. Quite tasty. The bacon was more fatty than usual, but still good. All in all our meal was satisfying. The service was superb.
While we ate the staff started to fill the lunch buffet with iced salads and veggies. The steam tables were turned on. Our waitress checked on us now and then, unobtrusive and pleasant.
Our bill came to a total of $13 (plus tip) for eggs, bacon, homefries, toast and an order of French Toast and bacon, plus coffee. Reasonable. When we left the restaurant, Hanna’s rain had started to fall, but we walked away with a homey feeling inside.
The Nazareth Diner & Restaurant is located at the intersection of Highway 248 and South Broad Street in Nazareth, PA. It is open 24 hours a day.
Have you eaten breakfast at The Nazareth Diner? What was your experience? Please go to the top of the article and click Comments.
Sara
Often, going out for breakfast isn’t so much about the food as it is about the conversation while eating. I tried to keep that in mind during this morning’s meal.
Around 10 o’clock, we drove up Highway 512 toward Bath for breakfast at The Turn In Restaurant. It had been a few years since we’d last visited. Neither of us remembered much about our last visit. (A sign of aging?)
After being asked “smoking or non-smoking?” we were shown to a non-smoking booth next to the front window. The small rooms were crowded and the smell of smoke lingered. Still, our booth was bright, clean, and decorated with a vase of lavender silk flowers. The vinyl benches and Formica table top looked relatively new.
An efficient teen gave us iced water and menus. A minute or so later a tall, 40-ish waitress arrived with pad and pen. We asked for scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, whole wheat toast, and home fries. She brought my coffee, steaming but only moderately strong in a shallow white cup and saucer.
Over sections of The Morning Call and The Express-Times we talked about the recently announced vice-presidential candidates (Joe Biden and Sarah Palin), and some regional news stories.
Our food arrived on hot oval plates. We’d barely lifted our forks when the waitress returned to “top off” my full cup of coffee. Except to bring the check, it was her last visit. In her defense, she looked tired. This is one reason we tend to favor those restaurants that leave a small carafe of coffee on the table at breakfast. Customers are happier, and there is less work for the staff.
The toast was nicely browned but otherwise our meal was non-exceptional. The potatoes, though also browned, were heavy with the taste of onions. The bacon was plentiful, but too greasy. The eggs were small.
As we ate we continued to talk – about our son’s latest email advice, about local politics, and other matters of interest. Turning breakfast into a date gives us a chance to catch up on the week. We’re free from phone calls and morning chores. And we enjoy the drive, there and back again.
Our meal at the Turn In was inexpensive, only about $10 (plus tax and tip) for two plates of eggs, bacon, toast, home fries, and a single cup of coffee. Not bad. Then when we got up to leave, I saw that while the carpet was bright and flowery along the edge, the path between the tables was almost black. A real turn off. I do hope the owners will consider adding new floor covering to their wish list of upgrades.
The Turn In Restaurant is located at 162 N. Walnut Street in Bath, PA. It is open 24 hours.
Have you eaten breakfast at The Turn In? Please tell us about it by clicking on Comments at top of article.
Sara
I love breakfast. Cooking it at home is okay, but eating it out is so much better. This morning we decided to go to The New Sullivan Trail Diner, just 
south of Wind Gap. It’s become a favored spot since a friend at work suggested it last year.
As we drove north along Sullivan Trail the late morning sky was blue and sunny, favoring us with a light breeze. The diner was full, not quite packed. As often happens, we ran into someone we know. A quick greeting then we took a booth next to the front windows. It was in the smoking section (we don’t) but we wanted a booth and the room was open and airy. Strong black coffee and glasses of water soon followed.
He ordered Eggs Benedict. I chose a Broccoli Omelette. The food, with one exception, was delivered quickly by our young waitress. “Someone stole your toast,” she said with an apologetic grin. Within minutes she brought out another order then hunted down my requested strawberry jam. A sweet girl, spunky, who kept our coffee cups filled.
The food was tasty enough, the home fries well-browned, not greasy. My omelet was large and cheesy with moist eggs. The broccoli was plentiful but was a pale green, slightly overcooked. On our last visit, I’d ordered French Toast – superb! My husband enjoyed his crisp hash browns and said the Eggs Benedict were acceptable. Our shared plate of bacon was tasty and brown.
Our bill totaled about $14 (plus tax and tip) for Eggs Benedict, Broccoli Omelet, bacon, and two coffees. Reasonable. With its friendly service, and clean and airy décor, the diner is a relaxing place to eat, and talk.
The New Sullivan Trail Diner & Family Restaurant is located at 6221 Sullivan Trail Drive, Nazareth, PA.
Have you visited this restaurant? Please share your experience by clicking on comments at top of article.
Sara
