Critic's Review
The place I planned to eat today was packed with a wait, so I wandered around and ended up hitting a diner. I hadn't been to Duffy's in quite a while, and I was in the neighborhood.
They close at 3 and it was 2:35, and I made the mistake of staying anyway. Not much has changed here in the past 2 years.
Still no spenda, but they do have decent sized coffee cups. I just added some eggs as I didn't have a lot of time.
Same deal as before; I ordered they offer "links or patties" as sausage, but to be real, these are not really links. These "swift premium" style sausages are just ground sausage meat rolled into a log. I really expect links to be sausage with a casing; that's what the "links" means; the casings are linked. Anyway. Same as before. Too small sausage and mini eggs; lots of potatoes and over toasted toast.
When you come in late you get the typical diner closing experience. They want you to cash out before you get your food, and you get the guys with the vacuums as every tries to get out at 3:20. My bad I guess.
Review 9/14/2010
Duffy's Diner is not in the form of the narrow, trailer-like venue with the big counter. Its more like a casual restaurant with some booths and some freestanding tables. Whats a bit different is that Duffy's is surrounded by windows on 3 sides, so there are plenty of sunny window seats.
You can sit where ever you want, which means that its a lot better than Mom's to start. The menu is fairly standard for breakfast, but for comparison purposes I ordered the usual. Coffee arrived quickly; no splenda is available. It was lunch time and the place was perhaps half full; certainly not busy. The food was served in an acceptable amount of time.
Now when I ordered they offered me "patties or links" for the sausages, but to be real, these are not really links. These "swift premium" style sausages are just ground sausage meat rolled into a log. I expect links to be sausage with a casing. After all thats how they make links. These sausages are too small for $2. There should be at least 3. With the miniature eggs, it might not be enough if it weren't for a very generous serving of home fries.
Everything was fine but halfway through the meal I could have used some more coffee. It was the first time that I could remember eating in a diner and not having my coffee refilled even once. I was also done eating and still didn't have the bill; I had to wait a bit and get my server's attention. She hadn't checked on me once. As she dropped off the check she asked if I wanted more coffee. "Too late now", I said. Sensing my sarcasm, she asked if I'd like to take some coffee out. "No Thanks". I wanted it during the meal.
Duffy's diner is pretty cheap but it is sort of in the middle of no-where. With miniature sausages and poor service I can't say that I'll be stopping in again.