Post-Show Celebration at NYC’s Stardust Diner

 Post-Show Celebration at NYC’s Stardust Diner

By Leo Arcelay-Christiano


The Night of Broadway 

After introducing my 8-year-olds sister to HadesTown on Broadway for the first time, my family an I went to Ellen's stardust diner. It is a 7 minute walk from times square and a 5 minute walk from the Walter Kerr Theater. It is loud, crowded, and we had to wait about 30 minutes to get inside (and we had the ticking clock of our Amtrak heading home). The whole place felt like one big performance. The servers are all aspiring broadway actors (allegedly) and they walk around with a big ol' tip bucket to help with "singing and acting classes." I wasn't so sure if I believed that necessarily but it did not ruin the overall experience.  

Dinner With a Show 

I have been to many low-key diners on the east coast, but none like this. The walls are covered in posters from old musicals, and everyone is so excited to be experiencing the same thing. One second I was asking my waitress how good the Mac and Cheese was, and the next thing I see she is walking the center runway stage singing Grease. It felt like the show never ended and we moved straight from the theater to our dinner table.

The Food and the Fun 

The food is exactly what you'd expect...Burgers, fries, milkshakes (and boozy milkshakes) but it is more about the experience than the meal. It is not everyday you see another side of your server that you'd otherwise never see. I ordered a classic burger and fries and I treated my sister to a specialty milkshake (painfully $18) with chocolate chip cookies and whipped cream coating the glass. It was messy but also an amazing memory for the both of us.

Why Stardust Stands out 

What I liked most, was how NEW YORK it all felt. The servers were extreemly passionate and singing while gathering sodas and ice from the machine, all while rushing between their tables. It gave the vibe of the classic "NYC or HOLLYWOOD dream"in an inspiring and joyful way. For me, this was an amazing one-time experience, but I would definitely recommend taking someone here if it was their first time in the city.

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