Eater has put a deathwatch on LoSide Diner.
"the biggest problem they face is the one-two punch of bad food and zero authenticity."
Nothing against Eater, at all, but I think everyone has misunderstood LoSide Diner. And that misunderstanding has allowed me and my friends many evenings of leisurely dining for hours for very very little money.
Now if you're a rich person, of course you don't like LoSide diner. Of course you think it's unauthentic. Because you can afford to eat anywhere and the concept of BYO means nothing to you. But for the rest of us, LoSide Diner was/is the only place on the LES (that I know of) where a group of friends can meet (right off the subway!), sit in a big booth, bring their own cheap wine (opened, chilled and poured by the friendliest restaurant staff in the entire city), listen to 69 Love Songs and enjoy a decent grilled cheese or veggie burger unbothered by crowds or hurried waitstaff. And two hours later the bill for four people, entrees and appetizers, is less than $40. LoSide diner isn't unauthentic. LoSide diner is the MOST authentic. And if you don't believe me, just check out the art on the walls.
UPDATE NOTE: The reason we could stay that long was because nobody else would be there, and we always tipped like 50%. I understand that the things I like about LoSide are the same things that doom it.
Oh, and they have the best (and most authentic) Southern-style potato salad in New York City. So there. Save LoSide Diner!!
Love the meatloaf. And it cracks me up that the menu notes that the egg cream "doesn't have eggs."
Posted by: Mark Coatney | September 08, 2006 at 04:01 PM
Sounds like a place we would love to eat.
Posted by: AHCB | September 08, 2006 at 05:19 PM
No, no....this place is authentically awful. Everything tastes like bad-fried bad. Sorry, irony shouldn't be directed toward your stomach, leave that little guy alone.
Posted by: | September 08, 2006 at 05:24 PM
it's INAUTHENTIC, jerk-off
Posted by: | September 08, 2006 at 05:35 PM
the food isn't half bad...if it ever comes. every time that i've been here for brunch, the service is the ultimate downfall of this place. you're better off going to olympic diner on delancey and essex. now that place has authenticity, and reasonable prices.
Posted by: karl | September 08, 2006 at 05:39 PM
Ah, 5:35 pm, you came here from Gawker didn't you? I know it's 'inauthentic', but I'm going to leave it wrong just to piss you off.
Posted by: lindsay | September 08, 2006 at 06:06 PM
ive been reading you (mostly) happlily for a long time, and only today did i read - in your 'about' section - that you used to picket abortion clincs. frankly, it makes me ill ... once a floridian, always a floridian i guess ...
Posted by: | September 08, 2006 at 06:07 PM
do you respond to every commentor? or only the angry ones?
Posted by: narnia | September 08, 2006 at 06:31 PM
I had to laugh at the Lindsay = hipster comment. I've seen you in business attire!
Posted by: Dashiell | September 08, 2006 at 06:38 PM
I love the LoSide diner! Seriously the only place that I can guarantee I won't have to wait and I'll leave full for less than 10 bucks. Plus I've eaten a few things there that I think are pretty decent. It's not Babbo, but who needs it to be? And that art is hilarious.
Posted by: K | September 09, 2006 at 08:22 PM
we ate here tonight and it was horrible. my friend's salad greens all looked like vitiligo and the avocado on the veggie burger was rock solid. we complained the whole time and swore we were one candid camera. bleuch. ptaw. ugh.
Posted by: leawanda | September 10, 2006 at 02:06 AM
LoSide sucks. The food sucks, the service sucks and the art sucks too. And it smells.
go somewhere else
Posted by: | September 11, 2006 at 08:09 AM
LoSide is simple, has great grilled cheese and soup, is inexpensive, and there is seldom a wait. Ignore the haters. It's not a bad joint.
Posted by: Sean | September 11, 2006 at 12:09 PM