Along a lonesome highway in the middle of nowhere, in a town that’s seen better days, The Orange Top Diner is a real slice of Americana. It is a country-style diner with limited counter seating but plenty of booths and tables. Diner cartoons hang on the walls and a faded photograph of a family of raccoons rescued from a dumpster hangs over the register.
State Route 17 and Interstate 87 run parallel to Harriman State Park and follow the Ramapo River. East of Tuxedo Lake sits the once prosperous village of Tuxedo. It resembles a ghost town these days, with boarded-up businesses along the highway, but The Orange Top Diner stubbornly hangs on.
The usual diner crowd of old timers drinking coffee was there to greet me on my visit. I ordered the Big Boy Special–two pancakes with one egg and meat for $7.75. They must not have a lot of fat people in town if that’s considered the “big boy,” but it was enough to fill me up. My scrambled egg and bacon was piled on top the pancakes, but the bacon was delicious and the grease didn’t spoil my pancakes like at some other places.
The Orange Top Diner has a typical diner menu. The food is simple and affordable, though dinner items are on the pricey side. Only one breakfast item, steak and eggs, is priced above $10.00. Their signature sandwich special, the “Happy Waitress,” is an open-faced American grilled cheese sandwich topped with bacon and tomato, with French fries, cole slaw, and pickles for $8.25.
The Orange Top Diner has a 4.3/5 average out of 60 Google reviews and 3.5/5 average on Yelp. In a typical positive review, Yelp user Remi D. from Manhattan writes, “I liked the coffee, apple pie and rice pudding after a good hike. I recommend this local place that serve diverse food.”
Google user Richard Delaney agreed, writing, “Great Sunday morning motorcycle destination. Family owned and staffed, food is always good but nothing too fancy. Staff is friendly and responsive and makes you feel like you are in the 1970’s! Love this place.”
A few negative reviews focus on particular incidents, but most are unimpressed with the food quality even if they liked the service. “It’s the only game in town,” is a common lamentation. Yelp user Joshua M. from nearby Tuxedo Park wrote, “A small town diner, where everyone knows everyone. A good place for a quiet meal to distract you from the worries of everyday life. Fair prices for the quality of food.”
The Orange Top Diner is located at 192 Route 17 in Tuxedo Park, New York. Phone: (845) 351-3316. They are open seven days a week 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. They have an ATM, but they also take credit cards (not American Express).
M.A. Kleen 