28 Jan Nickel and Diner

A tidily modern interior.

A hip, new version of a diner opened in SoHo in a former old-school Chinese $5 buffet restaurant. Revived and refreshed with contemporary interior updates and indulgent takes on traditional diner fare, Nickel and Diner hits a bulls-eye.

I went for brunch and sat at the bar with full sun flooding the place through large square windows that front the street. With mirrors over the bar and a full view into the kitchen there is no shortage of activity to keep your eye on.

This place is popular so reservations are a must; otherwise a wait could be up to 30 minutes for a table or bar spot. But should you find yourself waiting, it’s well worth it as you can always have a quick coffee in the alcove area at the entrance where a little coffee counter supplies drinks for grab-and-go customers, also artistically designed with fun foam creations.

The staff is super friendly and welcoming, even accommodating my requested changes to my entrée and easefully chatting with customers in general.

While the scene is vibrant, stylish and fun it’s the food that impresses most. My simple lox on sourdough was beautifully presented with extra touches such as braised farm spinach and citrus hollandaise sauce. Delicious!

Simple but beautiful presentation.

While it seems that most diners are disappearing from the Manhattan landscape, this one proves it’s a concept worth keeping around and with the bustling crowd I witnessed on my visit it’s sure to be a success.

Nickel and Diner is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with brunch on weekends as well as a full cocktail bar. You’ll definitely want it on your calendar!