When Old John’s opened in Lincoln Square in 1951, A Streetcar Named Desire was in movie theaters, and Nat King Cole was at the top of the radio charts. Amazingly, 75 years later, Old John’s—a full-service diner with cocktails, too—is still bustling and considered one of the best places in the city to get classic diner food, such as waffles, pancakes, French toast, hash browns, and more.
Despite undergoing some changes over the years, there’s an air of nostalgia at Old John’s. The restaurant was called “Old John’s Luncheonette” when it originally opened at West 66th and Broadway. In 1998, it moved to its current address at 148 West 67th Street. Some architectural elements are new, such as the horseshoe bar, but the Art Deco lighting, mosaic tile floor, and cozy booths remain true to its original charm. Part of Old John’s legacy is its people—some staff have been there for decades. Louis Skibar, a former employee, now owns Old John’s. He renovated and reopened the restaurant in 2021 after it closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, Old John’s has continued to grow, completing an expansion in 2024 that added more seating and a beautiful new bar.
Known for its menu of classic diner food, Old John’s also has a large drink selection with everything from egg creams to beer, wine, and more. You can go to Old John’s for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner—though you might want to make a reservation, since it’s still popular after all these years, especially with the pre-theater crowd. Breakfast hours are 7:00am to 11:30am on weekdays and until 9:00am on weekends. Brunch runs from 9:00am to 3:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and lunch hours are 11:30am to 3:00pm on weekdays. Every day, dinner hours are from 3:00pm to 11:00pm. Some options from the dinner menu include Chicken Pot Pie, Cavatelli Duck Ragu, and My Momma’s Meatloaf. In typical diner fashion, there is an “All Day Breakfast” section on the lunch and dinner menus.
Congratulations to Old John’s for thriving after three quarters of a century in business. Stay tuned for some potential special additions to the menu to mark their anniversary!
Photo Credit: LSBID Staff
