Highland Park Diner
Located on South Clinton Avenue, just minutes from downtown Rochester, New York, the Highland Park Diner is conveniently located to many Rochester attractions, including historic Highland Park (with its annual Lilac Festival), the Monroe Avenue shopping district, the Cinema Theater, and Park Avenue.
The Highland Park Diner is an historic 1948 Orleans diner (the kind you see on Food Network that look like Airstream trailers). In 1986, it was redone with an Art Deco style, giving it an eclectic look that adds to the restaurant's ambiance. Typical diner fare is served, with breakfast available until 3 PM each day. The Highland Park Diner is open 7 days a week, with breakfast only served on Sundays.
I was a frequent patron of the Highland Park Diner when I lived in Rochester's Upper Monroe Neighborhood, but haven't been there for several years. During a recent afternoon at the Lilac Festival, I was able to visit there again, and was pleased to find that the food and service were just as good as I remembered. Portions were generous and the food was excellent, no matter which meal you chose: of my party of five, four had lunch, but I had a former breakfast favorite, which isn't to be missed!
One of the Highland Park Diner's signature breakfasts is the banana bread French toast. Three thick slices of banana bread are dipped in batter and fried, and served with a whole sliced banana and banana butter. The portion is enormous, and I took half home for breakfast the next day. The Reuben sandwiches are also great, piled high with a generous serving of corned beef. The shakes are another don't-miss.
Whether you are looking for something different from the standard festival fare after a trip to the Lilac Festival in May, or just looking for great food in an historic setting, the Highland Diner is a great, affordable restaurant.
Highland Park Diner
960 South Clinton Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620
585. 461.5040
images © 2007
