Located along State Route 3 between Felts Mills and Great Bend, New York, Magic’s Diner (formerly Magic’s Golden Unicorn) is a country-style diner known for its “Mountain Challenge” and is a favorite of soldiers from nearby Fort Drum.
According to their Facebook page, Magic’s Golden Unicorn opened in November 2014. It rebranded as Magic’s Diner in May 2016, but retained the same menu and staff. The “Mountain Challenge” consists of two eggs, two pieces of bacon, two sausages, toast, home fries, and two 32 oz buttermilk pancakes (4 lbs!) for $13.95. As of writing this, only eight people have successfully eaten the entire meal.
In terms of food quality, my several visits to this diner have been a mixed bag. On one visit, I ordered a ham and cheese omelet and it was runny and undercooked, but the potatoes were well done. On another, I ordered one extra-large “challenge” pancake and a side of bacon, which was more than I could handle. The pancake was thick and tasted great. A friend told me he was inspired by my effort and also hoped to eat a big pancake in the future. The service has always been good. Their waitresses are friendly and helpful.
On Sundays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. they offer a breakfast buffet and hold a “cruise in” for classic cars, imports, and motorcycles on Tuesday nights from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the summer.
Magic’s has a 3.8/5 average out of 27 Google reviews. Patrons enjoy the food, prices, and quality of service. In a typical review, Yelp user Johnny C writes: “Food was good and so was the price. Steak and eggs with the potatoes was very delicious. French toast with the strawberries was also good. I have no complaints from my first time trying this place out. Also the waitress was very friendly and made us feel welcome.”
Others have found their breakfast bland and even undercooked. Google user Sharon Stone writes, “Everything was cold. Eggs were runny. Corn beef hash was ice cold, never had onions in hash before and they were raw.” Tracie G agreed, writing, “Potatoes were cold and soggy, didn’t taste grilled at all. Food was not great, but merely mediocre.”
Magic’s Diner is located at 31606 Route 3 in Felts Mills, New York. Phone: (315) 405-8542. They are open Sunday through Wednesday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Times may vary depending on season.
M.A. Kleen 