Central Diner

The waitresses are incredibly rude, no one assists you when you come in, and they literally yell at customers. They’re understaffed and the restaurant itself is disgusting. There’s old food everywhere on each table, none of the tables have been wiped down, and the waitresses touch: their phones, money, as well as your food. I see now why this place has a two star rating. Would definitely recommend eating somewhere else in the airport or going outside of the airport for food. Traveling is hard and the last thing you want to experience is atrocious service to top it off.

Ok so here i am at the airport waiting for a family member who arrives in 2 hours. I was super early because i had the fear of ‘holiday traffic’ in my mind since it’s the friday starting memorial day wknd. Plus i came early as i wanted to make sure i got a parking spot near the exit. So of course what i do is look for a place to sit and have a bite and do some work, answer an email or two… And it had to be where i was, on the street side of security.
The food is okay, it’s an airport diner. People were eating burgers today. I asked the smiley waitress what she recommended, and she said they make the burgers fresh to order. That was all i had to hear. I didnt want any heated and reheated or nuked-​up food. It was ok. I’d go with a burger but skip the mushrooms (rubbery). Lettuce, tomato all ok. The fries are standard string fries and they all taste better hot. Those kinds of fries are condiment suckers so i made sure i stopped eating them when they went cool rather than squirting more mayo-​ketchup on my plate! I got my food in less than 10 minutes, and the people around me are happily eating burgers too. The internet is not free here but it’s not anywhere in term 4. Yes this placed is way overpriced, way! Burger fries and a soft drink for $ 20. It’s a seller’s market. But hey if you want to eat something and sit down here you go. Service was excellent, with smiles and speed, from both the waitress and the food runner/​busser guy.

Worse experience in Jfk, the service was awful, the food was cold, when I ask for anothe cup of coffee the waitress response was «you will get it when I get chance»… when new comers walk into the place, they were getting responses such as check if u can sit at the bar as I don’t have time to sit you at a table… I have to stand up in order to get my check because it was impossible to deal with the service!!!

So we got there at 1 am and this Jamaican woman was the only waitress there. A man whom was obviously the cook said come back in one hour. We will be serving food. The woman waitress said maybe longer than an hour. We went back in 1 hour and the waitress said another 30 minutes. In 30 minutes she said oh I don’t know when we are serving food. I said well let me get hot chocolate and we will sit in a booth. She said no only the bar stool seats because someone may want to order food. My husband got mad and wanted to leave. I asked her for a business card because I was determined to contact management. She said without taking her eyes from texting on her phone, «oh we don’t have those». This was today as in this morning. The time is now 3:25 am.

The only reason this place survives is because people have no other choice but to dine here. Literally, the other diner is 3 terminals away.
I’m stuck in JFK for 8 hrs, but that doesn’t bug me. What bugs me is been harassed by a hostess of this diner. Within 5 hrs, I’ve been a patron of this place twice. On my first visit, while I was patiently waiting for a service, a hostess did not give me a menu to select my food from, yet approached me in half an hour to ask me if I’m dying it or not. She was concerned that I might be been just taking up space of a potentially paying customer. Second time, I have completed my meal and I was waiting on my dessert. She has approached me again! This time a waitress came to my rescue, saying that I am at a customer and I have already eaten. I don’t know, if this is just this dinner or a culture of this city. Either way, I’m not accustomed to it, but I’m going to roll with the punches. Food cannot be complemented either. Roast beef is just like a rubber. Grilled chicken smells like gasoline.

Worst ever service. Racist. Stay away from Server named Sangeeta.
Unclean plates and horrible horrible horrible service.
Never again

This place is really bad with what they serve! I’m not sure if they care at all about the quality of the food here as their aren’t many options once you leave the security area of the airport and arrive down in baggage claim. If I would’ve known how bad it was here I would’ve happily chose McD before heading down to eat here.
First off the food here is expensive compared to what you get and not worth it at all. I ordered a house salad and the lettuce was very dry even with the dressing on top. It seems as if they never had rinsed it before serving or had been sitting around for a long time. My wife had gotten the fish and chips which was terrible. The fish tasted not fresh at all and had been frozen before. Not even sure what kind of fish, but it was bland and not seasoned plus it seemed as if it could’ve come straight out of a box.
My mom had gotten the turkey dinner and the turkey came out as cold cuts made for a sandwich. Not even an actual turkey was served! Her mashed potatoes looked as if they were processed and had a weird yellow color to it. My two nieces had the mac and cheese and they both didn’t like them as they tasted bland with no seasoning.
If ever I’m going back to JFK airport again, I’m definitely choosing a fast food option instead at least then I know what I’m getting without being ripped off and eating something that won’t make me regret about later.

Are here because we were too early to check in for an international flight. Definitely wouldn’t recommend it, but if you have to eat in the international terminal before going through security it’s the only sit down option.
The food wasn’t horrible. I had a grilled cheese and tomato soup combo, my friends had a BLT and a tuna melt, both which came with fries. We all thought the food was decent.
The service on the other hand was horrible. I understand it probably sucks working here, but our waitress wasn’t even responsive when j would ask her questions. She would just look at me. It was difficult to get waters and have her bring the check.
The drinks were pretty expensive, even for New York and an airport terminal, so beware. This is definitely not a place to go unless you have no other option.

Service: Our server was RUDE. Like really, really rude. First off, our grandpa simply said «when’s the food coming, dear» and the server literally gets in a big discussion about how you shouldn’t call people «dear». I mean really? We have a plane to catch *sigh*. Moving on. One person on our table said she wanted water and the server said «water for everyone? Ok» And ran off. What about my milkshake?! Moving on. We said «check please» about 8 times before he finally came (he was like right next to us so either the server needed a hearing aid or just likes annoying customers) And we pressed the pager, too (about 7000 times) We finally got our check after 15 minutes.
Food: One word– BLAND. The «crispy» potatoes were soggy, insipid, and made me wanna gag. I’m 98% sure the veggie burger was microwaved and the fries had no salt. Awful! And the worst part was that for fries, a burger, potatoes, and a milkshake the bill was $ 60. This included a $ 10-​ish dollar tip for our «server», who basically tried to find a reason to run off and watch the football game. It’s really a shame because the place looked really nice and fun. *epic sigh*

When I go to the airport to pick up a friend or relative (mostly my mother who visits me every so often), and their flight is delayed, I find myself looking for a café or a diner to feed my boredom. Accordingly, when this 24-​hour diner opened a little less than two years ago, it was a welcome addition to the arrivals area of JFK airport’s terminal 4, where there is an acute dearth of dining options.
The first time I went there was exactly a week after they opened, and everything looked promising. The food was really tasty, and the service was very cordial. The meatloaf sandwich consisted of a generous slice of very flavorfully seasoned all-​beef meatloaf and crispy onion straws on Texas toast. The crinkle-​cut fries were crisp on the outside and soft inside. The orange creamsicle cake was moist and fluffy, and the cream cheese frosting was layered in just the right proportion to the cake. I actually felt like I’d be looking forward to going to the airport to receive guests, and hoping that their flights would be delayed!
My subsequent visits, however, have all been a major let-​down. The meatloaf sandwich is no longer offered, the fries are limp and bland, and the orange creamsicle cake does not taste fresh anymore. Service continues to be friendly and gracious, however.
I had liked this diner so much on my first visit that I wanted to believe that each of the half dozen of my subsequent visits was an off day that the kitchen was having. Fool me twice, shame on me; fool me half a dozen times, my head must forever remain hung in ignominy!
This must be what betrayal in love must feel like!

You walk in, so excited to see this mirage off a restaurant right in the center of the lower level of jfk. You’ve been walking for ages in 13° temperatures, you have no choice but to sleep at the airport for your layover because everything is crazy out. It’s the middle of the night. Everything is closed. And here’s a diner.
It’s cute, and fairly empty. They allow you to seat yourself as it is empty tonight.
You choose a booth for you and your traveling companion and you order hot coffee while you peruse the menu. She brings the coffee, and it is really really good coffee.
The waitress returns and asks what you’ve decided and you’ll have fries. The waitress then turns to say «that’s it?» With a look of disgust. The diner is empty yet she continues with «6 paying customers could sit at this booth, but you want fries and coffee?» Then walks away.
Then the restaurant gets even more empty as you leave. Tossing 6 $ on the table to cover the 2 small coffees.

This is the worst diner I’ve ever been to in my life…
(The absolute worst part is thinking about all the less atrocious food — in comparison — inside the security check point that I can’t get to.)
I had a couple of hours to spare between a drop off and a pick up at JFK and needed a place to work/​charge devices while grabbing a bite.
I knew I should have gone to the JetBlue food court the moment I stepped in. Super depressing atmosphere. Everyone looks sad to be stuck eating here. Menu is expensive. Doesn’t look all that clean. All the food looks OLD. I would be surprised if McDonald’s isn’t better tasting than this.
Went through the menu and picked the thing you can least mess up on — buffalo wings. Well… Tastes like twigs in buffalo sauce.
Super curious about the reviewers who say the food tastes good — must have been starved for hours on their flights and/​or totally drunk.
Service is ok. Except at the end when the waiter put a big circle around the part of the check that lists the recommended gratuity amounts. When does doing this ever make me want to tip more?
Stay away. Better off getting food from a vending machine.

After having missed my flight to LAX, Central Diner is one to remember. I really enjoyed having an appetizer and desert.
The boneless chicken wings are just delicious and the red velvet cake with cheesecake frosting was amazing!!!
Comfortable booths to wait for my flight and to charge my cell. Nathan my server was very efficient and kept smiling even at 3 am.

Food very good
Cleaniness Very good
serving Very fast being an airport diner
Very attetive.

JFK Terminal 4 has few eateries
At Central Diner to rest my legs and wait for a friend
A guy shouts out orders to the kitchen while standing in front of it. So don’t sit in front of the kitchen unless you like all that shouting.
However, he is the one who knew that my burger was missing the avocado and that I wasn’t given utensils. Seems like he is the only guy who knows what is going on.
Burger was a little charred.
Fries were good.
No Coca Cola, only Pepsi but they didn’t say so till they served it.
Finally someone noticed that my Pepsi was all gone and asked if I wanted another one. I got it promptly too.

Easily one of the worst places you can eat at. Food wise I can’t say much. I had a tea and a slice of red velvet cake. M had a coffee and a tuna melt. He said it was just OK; same goes for my cake.
Now the service… Only come here if you have plenty of time. It takes forever for them to take your order. Then it takes them a lifetime to serve you your meal. On top of that, the staff argues with each other nonstop and it’s really obvious too.
I saw more than one customer complaining to the manager while I was there. Such a shame since the place looks pretty OK.

For an airport eatery and diner the food is pretty good.
They will seat you in a comfy booth and you can order little and they won’t rush you out.
Ayesha was all smiles and killed as she served me my hard boiled eggs and my daughter some awesome pancakes.
The lattes are delish.
If waiting for a plane and needing a bite in terminal 4 there are not many options. Go for it and have a good time.

We grabbed a quick bite here while waiting for my mom to arrive back from her summer trip to Israel. Considering we were in the airport, prices for dishes weren’t as high as I expected. Started with a spinach and artichoke dip… actually not too bad at all. Then we ordered a burger/​fries, veggie burger/​fries, and a Greek salad. Again, considering where we were, I was fine with all the food and satisfied upon leaving. It hits the spot when you’re hungry and waiting for a while in the airport. Not fancy or amazing by any means. Service was semi quick and staff was friendly, but not the most experienced.

I think it’s really quite respectable considering it’s a burger joint in the public portion of JFK Terminal 4, just outside the international arrival gate.
I got a rueben (with fries) and a coke. sandwich and fries were $ 12.99 with seemed OK, but the soda was like $ 3.
Food was decent, service was quick and the staff was pleasant.

After a long flight (or drive in to pick someone up) this is a delightful spot to crash. The energy is old schools diner: casual, perky and fast!
Open 24 hours (!) breakfast, lunch and dinner are offered at all price points. I was incredibly tempted by their prime rib special ($ 32.99). Alas, it was only 10am and this gem only begins at 11am :/​ (The signage is motivating. «UNTIL SOLD OUT»)
The short stack is quite large. Two pancakes fill an 11″ plate with a side order of bacon or sausage links. (There’s another choice but the meticulous staff keeps scooping up the menu. I can’t torture them further by pulling it down again.)
Seat yourself. Grab a menu. Feel free to grab a server too. Outlets line the bar and booth area. Checks can be split by dollar amount instead of items. Complimentary wifi is available for 30 minutes.
If you only stop outside, at the to go area, know that the team inside is hustling to make things work. (Go Gus! Seriously.)
I’m sure all the servers are wonderful. However, I was spoiled by Kia. (So, so very chipper!)
Thank you Central Diner!