Ellen's Stardust Diner
1650 Broadway - New York, NY
We stopped here for a bite to eat before going to see Back To The Future: The Musical at the Winter Garden Theater next door. Neither of us had heard of the place before, but the outside of the building made it look like it could be an old school diner; maybe even one that hadn't changed too much over the years. It ended up being much cooler than that.
Ellen's Stardust Diner was opened on 51st and Broadway in 1987 by Ellen Hart. She grew up in Queens and was selected to be one of the Miss Subway girls in the spring of 1959, which the restaurant pays tribute to with vintage Miss Subway train placards on its walls. However, what the diner is really known for is its singing staff, many of whom have gone on to long and successful careers on Broadway.
The latest entry in the Reasonably Priced Reubens Within Driving Distance subgenre is the Ruby Reuben from Ellen's Stardust Diner, which is what I had for lunch. It was delicious and a pretty decent price considering the location and the fact that it came with a free show.
This is just a small clip of our time here. The performances were constant, with just a couple of minutes in between each singer taking the microphone. If you're looking for a quiet place to eat, this really isn't for you, but if you want a place with good food, a fun vibe, and a hell of a lot of talented singers who are all working towards their big break, Ellen's Stardust Diner is a place that you need to experience for yourself.
As we were leaving, the man who sang New York, New York with my wife gave her this cute magnet for singing with him.
