Located in downtown Adams, New York near Sandy Creek, Gram’s is a modern diner with a contemporary style. According to the Watertown Daily Times, Gram’s has been open for decades, with a handmade, wooden sign above the door (you can see old photos in this article). New owners took over Gram’s in 2013 and updated its decor to give it a fresh new look.
When I visited, I was impressed with the diner’s cleanliness, bright atmosphere, and local pride, but not its wait time. I made the mistake of waiting to be seated and was left standing by the register for quite some time before I realized I could just seat myself. I decided to take a spot at the counter. Even as the only person at the counter, it took at least ten to fifteen minutes before I even got a menu. Despite feeling invisible, my omelet was good (loaded with meat), and they offered a wide selection of toast.
Gram’s no-frills menu includes the usual eggs, omelets, pancakes, and French toast. You won’t find many surprises on their lunch and dinner menu either. Their dinner menu is divided into four categories: steaks, chicken, Italian, and seafood, with four offerings a piece. They do have deep fried cheese curds, which is more commonly found in the upper Midwest, particularly Wisconsin. They also offer bacon cheeseburger poutine for $9.
Gram’s has a 4.7/5 average out of 39 Google reviews. Customers are impressed by how busy Gram’s always seems to be, and of course, they love the food. In a typical review, Yelp user Carol A. writes, “What find in downtown Adams. My friends and I met for dinner at Grams. We had a great server and had typical diner fare. My burger was cooked to order and was great. They serve chips alongside the burger or you can order fries for an extra $.”
Even customers who left negative reviews still liked the food. They focused on unusually long wait times, which was my experience as well. Yelp user Kristopher J. writes, “The food is good but the wait time and customer service is atrocious… This morning our party of 5 sat up front waiting to be seated for 20 minutes, but the staff never even acknowledged our existence.”
“Took forever to be served,” Angela M. added. “I think just locals get the good service. Took forever to get the check as well. Had to go up to counter to get check.” Service catering to local clientele may help explain why other patrons praised the diner for its speedy service.
Gram’s Diner is located at 13 Main Street in Adams, New York. Phone number: (315) 232-4881. They are open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and Sunday, 8 a.m. through 2:00 p.m.
M.A. Kleen 