Ellen's Stardust Diner sits on the corner of Broadway and 51st Street in Times Square and has operated for nearly four decades. The diner uses a 1950s-themed, Broadway-adjacent conceit and hosts themed events like a Mamma Mia!-inspired brunch. Servers perform continuously, singing Broadway tunes and American classics, and many have appeared in major productions such as The Lion King and Wicked. The menu is lengthy and affordable, with examples like a $19 bacon-and-eggs plate, though most patrons come for the performances. The restaurant does not accept reservations, can attract lines, and explicitly disallows luggage due to heavy tourist traffic.
Ellen's Stardust Diner has a lot that could work against it. It hosts themes within its 1950s, broadly dramaturgical conceit, like its "Mamma Mia!"-inspired brunch. As you might have imagined, there's singing. And, perhaps most unbearably of all, it is located in Times Square. But somehow, everything at this nearly four-decade-old spot on the corner of Broadway and 51st Street comes together like a charming high school musical.
You'll spot the place from half a block away, mainly because of its neon signs glowing in retro script. You might even spy a winding line. Ellen's Stardust Diner does not accept reservations, but like a lot of New York City's un-themed diners, service tends to move at a quick enough cadence to turn tables. Thanks to its location, motif, and photogenic quality, it is also so touristy that the restaurant's website explicitly disallows luggage.
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